Introduction and aim. Earlier our group showed that the Ukrainian phytocomposition “Balm Truskavets’” (UPhCBT) exerts classical adaptogenic effects on parameters of neuro-endocrine-immune complex as well as biophotonics and acupuncture in humans with maladaptation. The list of important properties of adaptogens includes their stress-limiting effect, which is usually tested in an experiment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify modulating effects of UPhCBT on post-stress changes in neuro-endocrine-immune complex, metabolome, electrocardiogram (ECG), and gastric mucosa at rats. Material and methods. The experiment is at 18 male and 20 female Wistar rats. 10 animals remained intact with free access to tap daily water. Rats of the control group for 7 days loaded through a tube with same tap daily water (2 mL once), while the animals of main groups received according to a similar scheme 0,1 mL of PhCBT dissolved in 2 mL of daily water or bottled table water “Truskavetska”™. Over the next 10 days, one animal remained intact and 3 other rats were exposed to acute (4 hours) water-immersion and restraint stress. The next day after stressing, EEG, endocrine, immune and metabolic parameters as well as gastric mucosa injuries was recorded. Results. Acute stress causes in control animals an increase in sympathetic tone, serum levels of catecholamines and corticosterone, combined with a decrease in vagal tone and serum testosterone levels. Such a neuro-endocrine reaction is accompanied by damage to the myocardium and gastric mucosa, an increase in the percentage of macrophages and fibroblasts in the thymus, entropy in the spleen, natural killer cells in the blood. Instead, the mass of the spleen and the percentage of lymphoblasts in it, theophylline-sensitive T-lymphocytes in the blood, the content of α-LP cholesterol in the serum, as well as the catalase and Na,K-ATPase activity of erythrocytes, decrease. Preventive use of phytocomposition, first of all, minimizes or even completely prevents damage to the myocardium and adverse post-stress deviations from the norm of listed parameters. Secondly, it initiates an increase in the level of PTH and the activity of serum acid phosphatase, the percentage of reticulocytes in the spleen and the intensity of phagocytosis of blood neutrophils, but at the same time a decrease in their bactericidal activity, as well as the percentage of monocytes and B-lymphocytes in the blood. Thirdly, it potentiates the post-stress increase in sympathetic tone and damage to the gastric mucosa, as well as natural killers, on the one hand, and the decrease in vagal tone, the level of testosterone in the serum, as well as the mass of the spleen - on the other hand. Fourthly, it reverses the activity of catalase of erythrocytes and the entropy of the splenocytogram. Conclusion. Ukrainian phytocomposition “Balm Truskavets” has a generally favorable adaptogenic effect on the post-stress state of the neuro-endocrine-immune complex and metabolome. However, there are certain adverse effects as the so-called adaptation fee.
The researchers of the Truskavetsian Scientific School of Balneology have demonstrated that effect of balneotherapy at the Truskavets’ Spa on the physical working capacity of both healthy rats and different categories of patients is ambiguous. It is shown that various variants of actotropic effects are accompanied by characteristic changes in a number of body parameters. The purpose of this study was to identify neuro- endocrine, hemodynamic and metabolic accompaniments of actotropic effects of balneotherapy in men with maladaptation. Material and methods. The object of observation were 34 men (aged 23÷70 years) with maladaptation against the background of chronic pyelonephtis in remission phase, who came for rehabilitation at the Truskavets' Spa. The object of study: PWC, hemodynamics, HRV, EEG, adaptation hormones, blood and urine metabolites. The survey was conducted twice: on admission and after 7-10 dais of rehabilitation. Results. The analysis of individual changes revealed that balneotherapy in 18 patients did not significantly affect the level of fitness. In 9 patients balneotherapy caused an increase in PWC150 (direct difference: 0.57±0.12 W/kg) while in the other 9 patients the level of fitness decreased (direct difference: -0.42±0.03 W/kg). Discriminant analysis revealed 24 variables as characteristic accompaniment of the three variants of actotropic effects of balneotherapy. Among them, 2 are hemodynamic, 13 are neural, which reflect the entropy of EEG and HRV as well as delta-, theta- and beta-rhythms, 2 are endocrine, and 7 are metabolic. Classification accuracy is 100%. Conclusion. The multivariate actotropic effects of balneofactors are due to their multivariate effects on neuro- endocrine regulation and metabolism, which, apparently, is determined by the peculiarities of the individual reactivity of the body.
Ergometric physical working capacity (PWC) testing has a long tradition in occupational medicine for assessing whether a sufficiently high level of physical performance for coping with the daily work requirements is given. Physical performance and stress resistance of the body are considered one of the main objects of influence of adaptogens. The stress-limiting effect of bioactive Naftussya water known. Data on the influence of Naftussya on the muscular performance are ambiguous. We set ourselves the goal of comparing balneotherapy-induced individual changes in PWC with changes in some parameters of the nervous and immune systems, as well as erythron, hemostasis, and metabolism. Material and methods. The object of observation were 19 men and 3 women (age 26÷61 years, body weight 78÷100 kg) with urate urolithiasis and chronic pyelonephritis. The survey was conducted twice: on admission and after two weeks of rehabilitation at the Truskavets’ Spa. Registered PWC150, parameters of HRV, EEG, immunity, phagocytosis, erythron, hemostasis and metabolism. Results. The analysis of individual changes revealed that in 45,5% patients reduced fitness was completely normalized, however, in 54,5% patients, the normal level of fitness fell to the lower zone of the norm. Discriminant analysis revealed 5 EEG parameters, VLF band HRV as well as plasma alanine aminotransferase and bactericidal capacity of monocytes of blood, the changes of which are characteristic (classification accuracy 100%) for alternative variants of actotropic effects of balneotherapy. Conclusion. The alternative response of fitness to balneofactors occurs within the framework of the functional-metabolic continuum and the neuro-immune complex. A decrease in fitness to the lower normal zone is accompanied by the normalization of the reduced bactericidal capacity of blood monocytes, so we interpret this decrease as a “physiological payment” for it.
Aim: To investigate changes in oxidative stress indicators in rats under conditions of long-term ethanol exposure.
Materials and Methods: We studied the effect of prolonged exposure to ethanol on the activity of free radical processes in the gonads of rats of both sexes. Experimental animals were divided into 2 groups: Group I (control group) rats, which were injected with distilled water orally for 28 days; II group – which for 28 days were injected intragastrically with a 30% ethanol solution at the rate of 2ml/100g of body weight once a day.
Results: The conducted experimental studies showed that the level of free radicals increases in animals that were injected with ethanol for 28 days, as indicated by an increase in the ROS index by 1.6 times in males and 1.7 times in females. Lipid peroxidation processes are also activated, as evidenced by an increase in the level of initial products of the lipoperoxidation chain – HPL by 54.6%, intermediate products – TBP by 57.9% and final products – SHO – by 80.3% in males and by 68.2%, respectively , 80.9% and 84.6% in females. Along with this, the activity of oxidative modification of proteins in the organs of the reproductive system of the experimental group of animals also increased. In particular, the level of OMР370 in the testes of male rats increased by 89.1%, and OMР430 increased by 56.4% from the level of animals that were not given ethanol. In the ovaries of female rats, the level of OMР370 increased by 112.%, and OMР430 increased by 60.7% from the level of animals without simulating ethanol intoxication. Therefore, we were able to establish significant changes and disturbances in the processes of free radical oxidation in the organs of the reproductive system of animals under the toxic effect of ethanol, which can negatively affect the reproductive function and quality of offspring in animals that were simulated ethanol intoxication.
Conclusions: In animals of both sexes, under the conditions of chronic ethanol exposure, there is an increase in free radical oxidation indicators, namely ROS, lipid peroxidation, oxidative modification of proteins, and the growth indicators in females are more significant than in males. This indicates a negative effect of chronic ethanol intoxication on the state of the membrane structures of germ cells, with DNA damage, which can lead to a violation of the function of the genital organs.
UDC 612.822:616.831-092.18
This review presents an analysis and synthesis of the world literature, forming an up-to-date vision of the func- tional system of utilisation of end metabolites from the central nervous system, discussing impaired brain clearance in some neurodegenerative nosologies, as well as in strokes and traumatic brain injury. The central nervous system, lacking a classically conventional lymphatic system, requires alternative systems to clear the brain of potentially toxic cellular metabolic products. Over the past decade, world scientific sources have highlighted a new system of views, or the concept of the so-called glymphatic system, which makes it possible to drain the brain from extracel- lular harmful substances dissolved in the interstitium. Water channels such as aquaporin-4 (AQP4) are an important system component associated with neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's. The clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) and tau (tau) proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, for example, is reduced due to the impaired function of the glym- phatic system in the absence of AQP. The detected changes in AQP4 expression associated with certain pathologies make it possible to predict that this water channel could be a potentially interesting pharmacological target. Recent studies in this context have also shown that biomarkers of traumatic brain injury are eliminated from the brain through the glymphatic system. The degree of suppression of glymphatic function under these conditions may affect the likely prognosis after traumatic brain injury. The obtained results predict the clinical value of pharmacological manipulations of the glymphatic system after acute traumatic brain injury. It has also been shown that with ageing, the processes of glymphatic drainage in the CNS decrease, which can contribute to the accumulation of misfolded and hyperphosphorylated proteins and thus make the brain susceptible to the development of neurodegenerative pathology. According to the experimental evidence presented in modern scientific sources, the concept of "acute or chronic glymphatic insufficiency" should be distinguished, and the issue of finding criteria for their correct as- sessment should be updated. It is known that the number of vasteosomes or starchy bodies can be considered a marker of chronic glymphatic insufficiency. According to the researchers, this knowledge will facilitate the study of glymphatic insufficiency and allow us to understand which moderating variables will critically impact the function- ing or failure of this system. Moreover, the fact that they are markers of chronic glymphatic insufficiency gives them promising clinical significance.