Vol. 58 No. 1 (263) (2024)

The amount of ethanol in the blood of individuals was studied during the stages of resorption and elimination. Determination of alcohol was carried out by theoretical calculation using the Widmark's formula and by gas chromatographic method. As a result of comparing the obtained data, deviations caused by various factors were recorded. The combined use of these two methods will allow competent specialists to predetermine and more comprehensively assess the degree of alcohol intoxication.

Cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) is widely used as a biomarker of pathological processes, but its application for assessing the effects of environmental factors is limited. For the first time, cf-mtDNA was identified in the KCL22 cell culture treated with doxorubicin, which is known for its ability to disrupt mitochondrial functions. The results obtained indicate the effectiveness of using cf-mtDNA as a biomarker of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects.

Cancer treatment is an ongoing struggle around the world, and research into its treatment and prevention is constantly deepening. Unrestricted cell proliferation is a hallmark of cancer. In cell reproduction, the exchange of purine nucleotides is of great importance, because they are involved in the synthesis of DNA, which is necessary for the uninterrupted process of cell division. The activities of deamination enzymes of purine nucleotides, nucleosides, and nitrogenous bases are altered during cancer development both in tumor tissue and in other tissues and organs of diseased animals. From this point of view, it is of great interest to study the changes in the activity of purine metabolism, the first stage of which is deamination. The aim of this work was the study the deamination alterations of AMP, ADP, ATP, as well as adenine and adenosine in the liver and breast tissue homogenates in rats with 7,12-DMBA-induced breast cancer. In the experimental model of rats, mammary cancer was induced by 7,12-DMBA, and further treatment was carried out with the Hypericum alpestre. In addition, we also observed the combined effect of H. alpestre extract and chemical inhibitors on the deamination of purine compounds. Data show a significant elevation of the adenine compounds' deamination level in the breast cancer group treated with H. alpestre extract compared with rats with DMBA-induced breast cancer. During the development of breast cancer in rats, a significant reduction in deamination levels was observed in the liver homogenate. This reduction was compared with the group treated with H. alpestre, where deamination levels showed a notable increase. The levels of deamination of adenine compounds after the treatment with H. alpestre herb become very close to the values typical of the samples of healthy animals. Thus, in conclusion, the mentioned herb's anticancer activity can be expressed by the elevation of the deamination levels of adenine compounds, and one of the molecular mechanisms of the anticancer effect can be the dysregulation of deamination of adenine compounds under the influence of the selected plant․

The unique organization of lichen thallus provides still unexplored environment for microbial communities. The study aimed to isolate and identify endolichenic non photosynthetic diazotrophic bacteria from the thallus of corticolous lichen species Physcia biziana. Two strains of chemoorganoheterotrophic endospore-forming bacteria were isolated and identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Paenibacillus polymyxa (> 93.54% similarity). Characterization of cultivable strains suggest the involvement of associated bacteria in nitrogen cycling. This study highlights the significance of studying the endobacteriobiome of lichens, as it is an important aspect of their multicomponent natural biofilm.

Protein-protein interactions underlie supramolecular self-formation structures (including enzymes). Nowadays, they have a crucial role, as they contribute to the creation of biological substances with a certain function. Due to their unique properties, proteins, and enzymes have been widely studied in the last few years and their important roles in health and various diseases have been proven from this point of view, many enzymes are characterized by the process of self-formation ("self-assembly") depending on different conditions. Such an enzyme is arginase (including isoenzymes I and II), which can be considered as a biomarker clarifying the pathological conditions of the organism. Based on this, we aimed to create simple fractal models and study the changes in oligomeric structure (depending on pH and time) during the reversible inactivation of rabbit arginase I and II and elucidate the unique aspects of "self-assembly". We have shown that the "false" oligomers formed in the process of protein "self-assembly" in vitro can appear as intermediate structures endowed with enzymatic activity.

Nowadays, global health challenges such as the increased risk of diseases associated with oxidative stress and antibiotic resistance are issues of serious concern. Oxidative stress is considered the main cause of many modern pathological conditions, such as neurological disorders, ischemia, cancer, etc. Bryophytes synthesize a huge number of secondary metabolites that have therapeutic and nutraceutical potential. We assessed the free radical scavenging ability of the extracts using a common method, the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Three moss species showed good antioxidant activity. As the data obtained show, the lowest half-saturation values were observed in extracts of Dicranum scoparium – IC₅₀=21.13 µg/mL (78.87% inhibition), in extracts of moss Thuidium recognitum (Hedw) Lindb IC₅₀=28.0 µg/mL (72.0%), Brachythecium salebrosum – IC₅₀=43.75 µg/mL (56.25%). Aqueous extract of moss D. scoparium had less effect on the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Geotrichum candidum with inhibition percentages of 50% and 60% respectively; and for the growth of Mucor plumbeus and Cladosporium herbarum 70% and 75%, respectively. The results indicate that these plants contain compounds with antifungal potential. Bryophytes are not damaged by fungi, bacteria and insect larvae, because they contain aromatic and phenolic substances, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, sugar alcohols, amino acids, fatty acids, and aliphatic compounds that protect these organisms, so bryophytes have the potential for medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural use.

This study investigates the roles of specific subunits in Hyd-1 and Hyd-2 and their impact on proton and potassium fluxes during fermentation of glucose in Escherichia coli (E. coli). By examining conditions of varying glucose availability, we aimed to uncover how these subunits influence the metabolic adaptability of E. coli under fermentative conditions by altering ion fluxes, indicative of their roles in hydrogenase activity and cellular energy metabolism. Notably, hyaD and hyaF mutants exhibited a 50% increase in DCCD (N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide)-sensitive proton flux, underlining their critical roles in Hyd-1 activity. Exclusively, the hybF mutant demonstrated an increase in DCCD-sensitive flux, suggesting cross-regulation between hydrogenases, particularly underscoring the role of HybF in Hyd-1 activity, resembling the observations with hyaB data. Thus, in the presence of low glucose, HybF is presumably less involved in the maturation of Hyd-2. The data for hybE and hybF strongly imply that under conditions of low glucose growth supplemented with high glucose are crucial for Hyd-2 activity. HyaD and hyaF mutants exhibited a 50% increase in DCCD-sensitive proton flux, indicating their essential roles in Hyd-1 activity. Taken together, our results suggest that depending on glucose concentration specific subunits may have altered and cross-regulated roles in maturation of Hyd enzymes.

Environmental changes have profound impacts on biological systems, trig-gering a cascade of enzymatic and chemical reactions, molecular rearrangements, and alterations in molecular interactions. In the face of environmental stressors, plants employ various protective mechanisms to maintain cellular homeostasis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated during metabolic processes, serve as signaling molecules regulating plant metabolic pathways. To counteract the detrimental effects of ROS accumulation, plants possess robust ROS-scavenging mechanisms. These encompass enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, monodehydroascorbate, peroxiredoxins, alongside non-enzymatic antioxidants like ascorbic acid, α-tocopherols, glutathione, proline, phenolic substances, and carotenoids. However, under stress conditions and toxin exposure, ROS generation escalates within plant cells, particularly in organelles like chloroplasts, peroxisomes, and mitochondria, leading to oxidative stress and cellular damage. Studies employing gas chromatography-mass selective analyses revealed significant concentrations of methyl chavicol and menthol in essential oils extracted from select plant species. In vitro studies utilizing PAM-fluorometric data demonstrated optimal treatment periods for Arabidopsis thaliana leaf disks, aiding in elucidating potential allelochemical action mechanisms. Redox gel electrophoresis coupled with immune analysis facilitated the assessment of the redox status of key proteins in vivo, notably chloroplast peroxiredoxin (2-CysPrx), pivotal in photosynthetic regulation. Investigation into the redox status of 2-CysPrx under essential oil treatments unveiled menthol-induced oxidation and subsequent dimerization of the enzyme, suggesting a disruption in photosynthetic processes. Non-protein thiols (NPT), including glutathione (GSH), play vital roles in plant stress tolerance. Deviations in NPT concentrations serve as indicators of cellular redox status. Notably, treatment with menthol resulted in a statistically significant decrease in NPT levels, corroborating findings of altered peroxiredoxin redox states and implying perturbations in cellular homeostasis. Moreover, NIR KLAS 100 data highlighted allelochemical influences on the photosynthetic apparatus of A. thaliana wild-type and mutant plants, further elucidating the impacts of these compounds on plant physiological processes.

The impact on parasitic plants is complex and influenced by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors operating at various spatial and temporal scales. In parasite-host relationships as biotic factors, we consider the various host plants impact parasitic plants in varied ways. Our study examined also the correlation between the bioactive profile of the parasite plant and different environmental conditions. Our results demonstrated a correlation between the total polyphenols and antioxidant activity of water-alcohol solutions extracted from the flowers and stems of Orobanche caryophyllacea (bedstraw broomrape) under varying environmental conditions and host plants: Galium verum and Galium humifusum.

Elevated altitudes accompanied by low barometric pressure and acute oxygen deficiency, pose a significant risk for the development of High-Altitude Cerebral Edema in the brain. The resultant HACE is a potentially fatal neurological disorder that triggers a neuroinflammatory response and leads to significant changes in the redox homeostasis of the brain, ultimately resulting in neurodegeneration. In the current study, the level of apoptotic cells and mast cells, as well as the expression of TNF-α as an essential modulator of neuroinflammation was investigated following acute hypobaric hypoxic exposure. The animals were exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia for approximately 24 h at an altitude of 7620 m. The study findings indicate an increased level of mast cells in the brain parenchyma (p < 0.0001), accompanied by elevated TNF-α expression and TUNEL-positive cells (p < 0.0001), suggestive of neuronal degeneration following acute hypobaric hypoxia. The current study reveals the critical role of mast cells in edema formation during the neuroinflammatory response of the brain under hypoxic conditions. Additionally, it underscores the involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, in the process of blood brain barrier disruption, and the subsequent development of cerebral edema. This study provides a more in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of HACE, where the studied biomolecules contribute as essential neuroinflammatory modulators.

The degree of salinity of the agricultural lands of Armavir and Baghramyan Regions was evaluated. Soil samples were collected from 66 agricultural lands, which are almost evenly distributed in Armavir and Baghramyan Regions, at the end of the irrigation season (October) in 2023․ To determine the degree of salinity, the electrical conductivity of the samples was the primary indicator assessed. The study's findings indicate that there was a notable buildup of soluble salts in the upper soil horizons, which potentially decreased soil productivity. Considering this, it is crucial to manage the region's soils sustainably and with constant observation.