Objective: to study the correlation between quantitative perfusion parameters and the diastolic function in patients with microvascular dysfunction and arterial hypertension, stage 1, pain in the left half of the chest and intact coronary arteries (ICA), according to the single-photon emission computed tomography with 99mTc. Material and methods. The study included 29 patients with stage I arterial hypertension confirmed by 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, without left ventricular hypertrophy, with pain in the left half of the chest and ICA, each of whom underwent diagnostic invasive coronary angiography and SPECT/CT of the myocardium with 99mTc-technetrile at rest and in combination with stress. Results. In the examined patients with stage I arterial hypertension, without left ventricular hypertrophy with pain in the left half of the chest and ICA, according to S-SPECT/CT, disturbances in diastolic function (DF) of the LV, heterogeneity of perfusion at rest and stress-induced myocardial ischemia, corresponding to the initial manifestations of coronary insufficiency, were revealed, caused by a decrease in the perfusion reserve due to secondary microvascular dysfunction (vMSD), and is, apparently, the main factor in the occurrence of pain in the left half of the chest in this category of patients. A reliable inverse relationship has been established between speed and direct time indicators of LV DF and the prevalence and severity of stress-induced myocardial ischemia. Conclusion. In patients with stage I arterial hypertension, without left ventricular hypertrophy with pain in the left half of the chest and ICA perfusion deficiency and myocardial ischemia are associated with a significant increase in diastolic duration and a decrease in the velocity parameters of LV DF, which is revealed by SPECT/CT data already in the early stages and initial stage of the HD disease. The occurrence of left-sided heart failure in patients with hypertension and ICA is associated with coronary insufficiency caused by vMSD.

Objective: to present data on available modern methods of diagnosis of subclinical cardiovascular toxicity of chemotherapy. Modern strategies of treatment of cancer allow to stable remission and increase life expectancy of patients, the success of which is balanced by increased mortality of cancer patients due to the development of side effects of chemotherapy, the most prognostically significant of which are cardiovascular complications. Early diagnosis of cardiovascular toxicity in cancer patients is a “new” priority for collaboration of oncologists and cardiologists, as the development or progression of an already existing heart disease has a significant impact on the duration and quality of life of cancer patients. This review, at the current level of development of medical science, presents methods of diagnosis and monitoring of subclinical cardiovascular toxicity against the background of chemotherapy. Use for the diagnosis of subclinical cardiotoxicity such modern methods of visualization as two- and three-dimensional echocardiography, echocardiography with the definition of global longitudinal deformation of the myocardium - spectrum-tracking echocardiography, myocardial work, magnetic resonance tomography, definition of diastolic dysfunction allows to identify manifestations of cardiovascular toxicity in earlier terms, thereby affecting the prognosis and quality of life in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a rare neurological disorder caused by vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency and is associated with a significant risk of developing persistent neurological deficiency, chronification, disability and ultimately death if the aetiopathogenetic therapy with high doses of vitamin B1 is initiated late. Objective: to raise awareness among physicians about the characteristics of clinics, diagnostics and treatment of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Materials and methods. Retrospective analysis of the medical records of a patient with alcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy. Results. This paper presents the own clinical observation of a patient with newly diagnosed alcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy, clinical manifestations and MRI picture, describes the main features of aetiology and pathogenesis of this pathological process. Conclusion. An important role in the diagnosis of WE is played by the correct collection of anamnestic data and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, which has a sufficiently high specificity and is the only diagnostic method that allows this disease to be identified with high reliability. Thus, it is the thorough collection of anamnesis and the timely MRI examination that allow the doctor to point in the right direction of the diagnostic search in a timely manner.

Objective: to establish morphometric characteristics of different types of splenic venous vasculature’s structural components - bi-units (BUs) in males and females, of the 1st and 2nd periods of adulthood. Materials and methods. The study is based on the results of a morphometric study of corrosion casts of the splenic venous system of 64 people (32 men, 32 women; 32 first period of adulthood, 32 second period of adulthood) who died of sudden death and accidental causes between the ages of 21 and 60. The diameters (D) and lengths (L) of the venous segments forming the BU were measured. The splenic venous vasculature was represented as a system consisting of four types of BU: 1 - complete asymmetry, the values of the internal diameters of the proximal segment (D), the distal segments with larger diameter (dmax) and the distal segment with smaller diameter (dmin) are not equal- D≠dmax≠dmin; 2 - lateral asymmetry, D=dmax and dmax≠dmin; 3 - unilateral symmetry - D≠dmax≠dmin and dmax=dmin; 4 - complete symmetry, D=dmax=dmin. Results. All four types of BUs are present in the composition of splenic venous vasculature; the relative number, of the total number of BUs of splenic venous vasculature type 1 is 55.2%; type 2 - 4.7%, type 3 - 38.0%, type 4 - 2.1%; the presence of a reliable relationship between the relative number of BUs of different types, sex and age group; the sizes of all four types of BUs were determined; the largest size is BU of type 1, and the smallest - BU of type 4; the most symmetrical bi-unites are of types 3 and 4, the most asymmetrical - of types 1 and 2; the relative number of BU of type 1 decreases, BU of type 3 increases, and types 2 and 4 practically do not change in the direction from proximal to distal parts of the vasculature. Conclusion. The results obtained can serve as a foundation for the creation of a morphometric reference standard of splenic venous vasculature and should be taken into account in its numerical modelling.

Pine cone is a new promising type of plant raw material for using in a medical practice. Objective: determination of the phenolic compounds composition of pine cones dry aqueous extract, research of its toxicity, antiradical activity and effect on phagocytosis. Materials and methods. The research object was a collection of pine cones gathered in October 2020. A dry aqueous extract was obtained from the cones by extraction with hot water. The phenolic compounds composition of the pine cones dry aqueous extract was determined by ultra-efficient liquid chromatography/MS on a Waters Acquisition chromatograph with a diode-matrix UV detector and a tandem quadrupole MC detector TQD (Waters). To determine the antiradical activity, a reaction with a stable free radical, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), was used. The acute toxicity of the pine cones dry extract was researched by the V.V. Prozorovsky express method on white non-linear mice. The phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes was determined in vivo by a modified method. Results. The phenolic compounds composition of the extract was analysed. The research identified 12 substances present in the extract, representing at least 1% of the total area on the chromatogram. The following procyanidins were found in the pine cones extract: procyanidin B2, procyanidin B3, procyanidin C1, procyanidin D1. Additionally, flavonoids and phenolic carboxylic acids were identified. The pine cones dry extract demonstrated pronounced antiradical activity, comparable to that of ascorbic acid. The acute toxicity determination revealed that the LD50 of the researched compounds is in doses greater than 1260 mg/kg. Upon examination of the effect of pine cone extract on the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes, an increase in the phagocytic index was observed, yet no change was noted in the activity of total leukocyte phagocytosis. Conclusion. The dry aqueous extract of pine cones contains biologically active components of phenolic nature, which suggests that further research into its pharmacological activity may be promising.

The Voronezh region has traditionally been the most significant area for crop production and agriculture. However, the development of mineral resources, the implementation of chemical fertilisers in agriculture, and the consequences of the Chernobyl accident have highlighted the necessity to ensure the food industry has access to safe and effective plant raw materials. The use of low-quality plant raw materials and products derived from them represents a significant source of exposure to various ecotoxicants, including radionuclides, which can enter the human body. Objective: to examine the accumulation of the most significant artificial and natural radionuclides in the roots of a large burdock plant, harvested in different territories of the Voronezh region, with a view to determining the extent of the anthropogenic impact. Materials and methods. Under experimental conditions, the specific activity of the main long-lived artificial radioisotopes (cesium-137, strontium-90) and naturally occurring radionuclides (thorium-232, potassium-40, radium-226) on a spectrometer (RADEK MKGB-01 radiometer) was determined in samples of the upper layers of soils and roots of large burdock. Results. All of the studied samples of large burdock roots, which had been prepared in natural and artificial phytocenoses in the Voronezh region, met the existing radiation safety requirements (first group). With an increase in the specific activity of strontium-90, cesium-137, thorium-232, potassium-40, radium-226 in the soil, there was an accompanying increase in the specific activity of these radionuclides in the roots of a large burdock. Correlation analysis of the specific activity of artificial and natural radionuclides in the soil and roots of large burdock revealed a highly significant relationship between these numerical indicators, thereby confirming the predominant transposed pollution. Conclusion. The accumulation patterns in roots of large burdock, naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides are described by mathematical dependencies, with an accuracy of approximation that is as high as possible.

Objective: determination of the qualitative and quantitative content of free fatty acids and free carbohydrates in various samples of Eleutherococcus raw materials collected in the Russian Far East. Materials and methods. The samples used for the study were rhizomes and roots of Eleutherococcus collected in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, Amur and Jewish Autonomous Regions. The composition of the constituents was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results. In the samples analysed, 3 polyols (sugar alcohols), 6 sugars and 5 fatty acids were identified. The group of polyols identified includes arabitol, mannitol and inositol. From the group of fatty acids, palmitic, margaric, stearic, linoleic and oleic acids were identified. The carbohydrate group includes fructose, allose, glucose, cellobiose, sucrose and raffinose. The quantitative content was evaluated for each compound. In the fatty acid complex, the highest content was found for linoleic acid (1.15 mg/g). The dominant components of the carbohydrate complex were found to be sucrose and glucose with respective contents of 9.29 mg/g and 12.53 mg/g. The average content of total polyols was 1.29 mg/g, fatty acids - 2.01 mg/g and free carbohydrates - 29.51 mg/g. Significant variability was observed in the quantitative content not only of individual substances, but also in the sum of substances of different groups. The coefficients of variability of the content of individual substances ranged from 47 to 199%, and the amounts of fatty acids, polyols and free carbohydrates from 61 to 62%. Conclusion. Thus, presence of 3 polyols, 6 sugars and 5 fatty acids was detected. A quantitative assessment of their content and statistical processing of the data obtained were carried out. It has been shown that the quantitative content of the compounds in the samples studied is characterized by a significant variability.

Wound healing is a complex process that requires a comprehensive approach to treatment. Hydrogel materials modified with bioactive substances (BAS) are currently under active development. Such materials represent an alternative to conventional dressings. The inclusion of BAS in their composition opens the way to providing the required properties (antiseptic, antioxidant, etc.). Curcumin is one of a number of polyflavonoids that are being intensively studied for such use. Objective: in the current work, the method of obtaining gelatin-tannin hydrogels with BAS (curcumin), as well as the efficiency of isolation of the injected substance in vitro and the characteristics of its binding to the polymer matrix are considered. Materials and methods. The object of the study is gelatin-tannin hydrogels with curcumin. The structure of the materials was studied by IR spectroscopy, the sorption parameters were determined gravimetrically, the release of curcumin was studied by visible spectroscopy and analyzed using conventional pharmacokinetic models. Results. In the course of the work, hydrogel materials based on gelatin and tannin with a curcumin content from 0.1 to 1.0% were synthesized. It was found that the incorporation of curcumin into the polymer mesh was successful and curcumin is not released from hydrogels when swelling in distilled water. The introduction of curcumin into the formulation reduced the sorption capacity of hydrogels in distilled water from 15 g/g to 7-9 g/g. The Higuchi model (R²>0.95) was determined to be the most optimal model describing the process of curcumin extraction from materials. Using the description of the release kinetics, it was determined that the maximum release (22%) was achieved with a minimum curcumin content in the hydrogel (0.1 wt.%) and the minimum release speed. Conclusion. A method for the synthesis of gelatin-tannin hydrogels with curcumin has been developed. The structure of materials, sorption capacity, and the ability to release BAS have been studied. Further prospects for the inclusion of other BAS of a hydrophobic nature in the composition of hydrogels are shown.

Enalapril is a drug from the group of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Objective: to study the distribution characteristics of enalapril in the body of warm-blooded animals (rats) with normal renal excretory function and in conditions of its impairment. Materials and methods. The analyte was enalapril (N-[N-[(1S)-3-phenyl-1-(ethoxycarbonyl)propyl]-L-alanyl]- L-proline maleate). The analyte was isolated from biomatrices by infusion. Semi-preparative column chromatography was used for the purification of enalopril, and TLC, HPLC and spectrophotometric methods were used for the determination. Results. To isolate the analyte, a mixture of acetone-methanol (4:6) was proposed; the analyte was purified in a column (150×10 mm) of Silasorb S-8 sorbent (eluent isopropanol-water (9:1)), determined on Sorbfil PTSKh plates -AF-B-UV (eluent - ethanol), by absorption of UV light in ethanol and by HPLC (Luna® 5 µm C-18 100A 250. 0×4.0 mm column; eluent - methanol-acetonitrile-phosphate buffer with pH=3 (40:5:55)). After poisoning of rats with enalapril (LD50×3), the predominant presence of the analyte in healthy animals was found in the lungs (61.7 ± 5.0), small intestine with contents (46.5±5.1), stomach with contents (43.6±5.0), blood (43.1±4.1), in animals with impaired renal excretory function - in kidneys (154.4±18.6), blood (52.6±2.2), stomach with contents (41.9±3.7), small intestine with contents (36.8±6.6). Conclusion. Impairment of renal excretion leads to a change in the localisation of enalapril in the body and a significant increase in the presence of the toxicant in the blood, kidneys and spleen.

Objective: to conduct a resource analysis to determine the stocks of herb of Cichorium intybus L. growing in different areas of the Orenburg region. Materials and methods. Research object: the herb of Cichorium intybus L. growing in Tyulgansky, Sakmarsky, Ponomarevsky, Sharlyksky and Buzuluksky districts of the Orenburg region. To identify stocks and study the prevalence of the herb of Cichorium intybus L., we determined the area of all selected thickets of Cichorium intybus L. growth and their yield. We calculated the biological stock of raw materials (BZS), the operational stock of raw materials (EZS), the possible annual harvesting volume (VEOZ) of the herb of Cichorium intybus L. on the analyzed thickets. The research results were processed using the Microsoft Excel 2016 and STATISTICA 10.0 software package. Results. The highest BZS, EZS and VEOZ of the herb of Cichorium intybus L. were observed in Ponomarevsky and Tyulgansky districts of the Orenburg region in comparison with the studied raw materials collected in Buzuluksky, Sakmarsky and Sharlyksky districts. Conclusion. The most productive thickets of the herb of Cichorium intybus L. were found in the Ponomarevsky and Tyulgansky districts of the Orenburg region. Ponomarevsky and Tyulgansky districts can be considered as a potential promising territory for harvesting the raw material base of the herb of Cichorium intybus L.