Dietary polyamines promote the growth of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in rat colon

We have examined whether dietary polyamines influence the formation and initial growth of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon. Effects of a combination of dietary polyamines at three dose levels (putrescine: 50, 280, 740 nmol/g; spermidine: 10, 261, 763 nmol/g; spermine: 1, 31, 91 nmol/g) in the polyamine-poor AIN-76A diet were studied in animals in two different experimental situations: animals treated with AOM alone and animals treated with AOM + difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of endogenous polyamine synthesis. In both experimental situations, dietary polyamines enhanced the growth of ACF, expressed as the number of large ACF (foci with three or more aberrant crypts, ACF > or = 3), whereas the formation of ACF, expressed as the number of ACF, was apparently not altered. In animals treated with AOM alone, maximal growth enhancing effect on ACF was nearly obtained with the median level of dietary polyamine. In rats fed a low polyamine diet, basic AIN-76A, DFMO reduced the growth of AOM-induced ACF by 83%. This inhibitory effect of DFMO was counteracted by dietary polyamines in a dose- dependent manner, and it was abolished at the highest level of polyamines. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that dietary polyamines are able to enhance the growth of AOM-induced ACF. Further, dietary polyamines reversed the DFMO-caused inhibition of ACF growth, probably by compensating for the DFMO-reduced endogenous polyamine synthesis.      

The compound "eric" in the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases]

The drug erik was used in 32 patients with chronic bronchitis and acute bacterial pneumonia. Out of 132 strains assessed for sensitivity, 94 (68.6%) were sensitive to the above antibiotic, the rest demonstrated moderate sensitivity or drug resistance. The dose 0.5 g persisted in the blood for up to 12 hours allowing its use three times in 24 hours. The response was achieved in 32 patients (72.18%).     

Cardiodynamic characteristics of chronic coronary insufficiency patients at medical rehabilitation stages using therapeutic physical exercise measures]

The functional condition of the cardiovascular system was studied in patients with chronic coronary insufficiency in various stages of rehabilitation employing measures of remedial gymnastics with the elaboration of criteria for substaintiating the broadening of the movement regimen. Sixty patients suffering from ischemic heart disease marked by the clinical picture of chronic coronary insufficiency and 25 persons forming a control group were examined Polycardiography, aortic and arterial rheocardiography, and tele-electrocardiography were used. A follow-up of the functional condition of the cardiovascular system makes it possible to detect signs of the development of its reserve possibilities under the effect of long-term remedial gymnastics. Favourable shifts in the functional ability of the cardiovascular system may be only produced after long-term (12 months) remedial gymnastics performed regularly and with sufficient physical exertion, including walking and running.     

Profiles of sleep changes during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Demographic,behavioural and psychological factors

This study aimed to evaluate changes in sleep during the COVID‐19 outbreak, and used data‐driven approaches to identify distinct profiles of changes in sleep‐related behaviours. Demographic, behavioural and psychological factors associated with sleep changes were also investigated. An online population survey assessing sleep and mental health was distributed between 3 April and 24 June 2020. Retrospective questions were used to estimate temporal changes from before to during the outbreak. In 5,525 Canadian respondents (67.1% females, 16–95 years old: Mean ± SD = 55.6 ± 16.3 years), wake‐up times were significantly delayed relative to pre‐outbreak estimates (p < .001,  = 0.04). Occurrences of clinically meaningful sleep difficulties significantly increased from 36.0% before the outbreak to 50.5% during the outbreak (all p < .001, g ≥ 0.27). Three subgroups with distinct profiles of changes in sleep behaviours were identified: “Reduced Time in Bed”, “Delayed Sleep” and “Extended Time in Bed”. The “Reduced Time in Bed” and “Delayed Sleep” subgroups had more adverse sleep outcomes and psychological changes during the outbreak. The emergence of new sleep difficulties was independently associated with female sex, chronic illnesses, being employed, family responsibilities, earlier wake‐up times, higher stress levels, as well as heavier alcohol use and television exposure. The heterogeneity of sleep changes in response to the pandemic highlights the need for tailored interventions to address sleep problems.     

Immune-regulating Th1- and Th2-cytokines in chronic infections caused by hepatitis B and C viruses

The serum levels of Th1 (gamma-IFN and sIL-2r) and of Th2 (IL-10) cytokines were measured in 33 patients (23 males and 10 females, mean age 23.1 +/- 1.9) with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) according to a disease etiology (6 patients with hepatitis B--CVHB, 15 patients with hepatitis C--CVHC, and 12 patients with a mixed form of chronic hepatitis B and C--HBV + HCV). Besides, the contents of the studied cytokines were compared with the traditional infection markers and the presence of viremia. The similar indices taken from 10 healthy persons served as controls. The concentration of gamma-IFN was found to be reliably higher (p < 0.05) in patients of all three groups (0.32 +/- 0.07, 0.34 +/- 0.09 and 0.25 +/- 0.06 pg/ml, respectively) regardless of a disease etiology and as compared with the control value (0.09 +/- 0.04) pg/ml). At the same time, the levels of gamma-IFN, sIL-2r and IL-10 (0.25 +/- 0.06 pg/ml, 166.5 +/- 31.3 IU/ml and 48.1 +/- 8.4 pg/ml, respectively) was found to be reliably (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) higher, as compared to the controls (0.09 +/- 0.04, 57.1 +/- 5.6 and 10.8 +/- 7.8, respectively), only in patients with the mixed infection of hepatitis. Like in our previous study, a trend was established towards the growing mean values of the IL-r level from its lowest parameters in the group of CVHB patients towards its highest parameters in the group with the mixed hepatitis form. According to our data, the IL-2r level correlated reliably with the activity of AlAt (r = 0.452; p < 0.05), while the gamma-IFN content correlated reliably with the IL-10 concentration (r = 0.805; p < 0.05), and the gamma-IFN content correlated with the IL-10 concentration (r = 0.805; p < 0.01) irrespective of disease pathology.     

REM sleep characteristics of nightmare sufferers before and after REM sleep deprivation

ObjectivesTo examine whether disrupted regulation of REM sleep propensity is implicated in nightmare (NM) pathophysiology.BackgroundHeightened REM propensity induced by REM sleep deprivation is belied by increases in REM %, REM density and the dreamlike quality of dream mentation during post-deprivation recovery sleep. Compromised regulation of REM sleep propensity may be a contributing factor in the pathophysiology of frequent NMs.MethodsA preliminary study of 14 subjects with frequent NMs (?1 NM/week; 27.6 ± 9.9 years) and 11 healthy control subjects (<1 NM/month; 24.3 ± 5.3 years) was undertaken. Subjects completed home sleep/dream logs and underwent three nights of polysomnographic recording with REM sleep deprivation on night 2. Group differences were assessed for a battery of REM sleep and dream measures on nights 1 and 3.ResultsSeveral measures, including #skipped early-night REM periods, REM latency, REM/NREM cycle length, early/late REM density,REM rebound, late-night REM% and dream vividness, suggested that REM sleep propensity was abnormally low for the frequent NM group throughout the 3-day study.ConclusionsFindings raise the possibility that REM anomalies recorded from NM sufferers sleeping in the laboratory environment reflect a disruption of one or more endogenous regulators of REM sleep propensity.