«CHERNOMOR»: TO THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LONGEST EXPERIMENT

The work is devoted to a brief description of the preparation and conduct series of scientific experiments in the underwater laboratory “Chernomor” during the period of 1967–1972. The experiments were carried out at the depths from 8 to 30 meters. The place of the experiments is the Southern Branch of the Institute of Oceanology (Gelendzhik). It was unique experiments in the duration of a person’s stay underwater. The maximum depth for “Chernomor” was identified, the optimal methods of organizing work in underwater inhabited houses and the permissible depths for the use of nitrogen-oxygen breathing mixtures were determined. Specialized medical and physiological research was carried out to develop a methodology for the selection and training of aquanauts for future scientific crews. “Chernomor” was the only underwater house in the world that served on the seabed for five seasons in a row. More than 50 scientists from all over the country worked in it in different crews. The work is a tribute to the memory of all enthusiasts and dreamers: designers and developers, engineers and technicians, divers and scientists, everyone involved in those unforgettable events.

Beyond the Chicken: Alternative Avian Models for Developmental Physiological Research

Biomedical research focusing on physiological, morphological, behavioral, and other aspects of development has long depended upon the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) as a key animal model that is presumed to be typical of birds and generally applicable to mammals. Yet, the modern chicken in its many forms is the result of artificial selection more intense than almost any other domesticated animal. A consequence of great variation in genotype and phenotype is that some breeds have inherent aberrant physiological and morphological traits that may show up relatively early in development (e.g., hypertension, hyperglycemia, and limb defects in the broiler chickens). While such traits can be useful as models of specific diseases, this high degree of specialization can color general experimental results and affect their translational value. Against this background, in this review we first consider the characteristics that make an animal model attractive for developmental research (e.g., accessibility, ease of rearing, size, fecundity, development rates, genetic variation, etc.). We then explore opportunities presented by the embryo to adult continuum of alternative bird models, including quail, ratites, songbirds, birds of prey, and corvids. We conclude by indicating that expanding developmental studies beyond the chicken model to include additional avian groups will both validate the chicken model as well as potentially identify even more suitable avian models for answering questions applicable to both basic biology and the human condition.

The Gastric Conduction System in Health and Disease: A Translational Review

Gastric peristalsis is critically dependent on an underlying electrical conduction system. Recent years have witnessed substantial progress in clarifying the operations of this system, including its pacemaking units, its cellular architecture, and slow wave propagation patterns. Advanced techniques have been developed for assessing its functions at high spatiotemporal resolutions. This review synthesizes and evaluates this progress, with a focus on human and translational physiology. A current conception of the initiation and conduction of slow wave activity in the human stomach is provided first, followed by a detailed discussion of its organisation at the cellular and tissue level. Particular emphasis is then given to how gastric electrical disorders may contribute to disease states. Gastric dysfunction continues to grow in their prevalence and impact, and while gastric dysrhythmia is established as a clear and pervasive feature in several major gastric disorders, its role in explaining pathophysiology and informing therapy is still emerging. New insights from high-resolution gastric mapping are evaluated, together with historical data from electrogastrography, and the physiological relevance of emerging biomarkers from body surface mapping such as retrograde propagating slow waves. Knowledge gaps requiring further physiological research are highlighted.

Isolation of Persister Cells of Bacillus subtilis and Determination of Their Susceptibility to Antimicrobial Peptides

Persister cells are growth-arrested subpopulations that can survive possible fatal environments and revert to wild types after stress removal. Clinically, persistent pathogens play a key role in antibiotic therapy failure, as well as chronic, recurrent, and antibiotic-resilient infections. In general, molecular and physiological research on persister cells formation and compounds against persister cells are much desired. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that the spore forming Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis can be used to generate persister cells during exposure to antimicrobial compounds. Interestingly, instead of exhibiting a unified antibiotic tolerance profile, different number of persister cells and spores were quantified in various stress conditions. qPCR results also indicated that differential stress responses are related to persister formation in various environmental conditions. We propose, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, an effective method to isolate B. subtilis persister cells from a population using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), which makes analyzing persister populations feasible. Finally, we show that alpha-helical cationic antimicrobial peptides SAAP-148 and TC-19, derived from human cathelicidin LL-37 and human thrombocidin-1, respectively, have high efficiency against both B. subtilis vegetative cells and persisters, causing membrane permeability and fluidity alteration. In addition, we confirm that in contrast to persister cells, dormant B. subtilis spores are not susceptible to the antimicrobial peptides.

Diagnostics of human functional states in priority studies of Russian physiological schools

Relevance. Physiologically adequate and up-to-date methods are needed for diagnosing functional states in humans during occupational activities.Intention – Analysis of priority studies of domestic physiological schools in the field of diagnostics of human functional states and identification of priority studies, which are associated with the expected progress in the subject area.Methodology. On the basis of a systematic approach, there were reviewed fundamental studies of Russian physiological schools defining key approaches to the diagnosis of human functional states: from the foundations of the natural science research of human states in the process of activity, laid down by I.M. Sechenov, to the achievements of the modern Russian physiological school, one of the leaders of which is Academician A.D. Nozdrachev.Results and Discussion. The features of physiological diagnostics of functional states are shown, an important role of complex interdisciplinary approaches for solving problems of diagnostics based on the results of physiological studies is emphasized. The emphasis is made on the fact that methods for diagnosing human conditions in the process of activity should be guided by the dominant corresponding to each functional state, and take into account that various functional systems of the body are mobilized to ensure this state, with individually specific degree of their involvement in the formation of a functional state. At the same time, when diagnosing functional states it is necessary to take into account complex impacts of occupational factors and use approaches specific for socio-professional groups with the fullest possible consideration of their occupational tasks.Conclusion. It has been shown that methods for diagnosing functional states require development and improvement based on the results of fundamental physiological research, which determine approaches to the diagnosis of human states in the process of activity.

AQPX-cluster aquaporins and aquaglyceroporins are asymmetrically distributed in trypanosomes

Major Intrinsic Proteins (MIPs) are membrane channels that permeate water and other small solutes. Some trypanosomatid MIPs mediate the uptake of antiparasitic compounds, placing them as potential drug targets. However, a thorough study of the diversity of these channels is still missing. Here we place trypanosomatid channels in the sequence-function space of the large MIP superfamily through a sequence similarity network. This analysis exposes that trypanosomatid aquaporins integrate a distant cluster from the currently defined MIP families, here named aquaporin X (AQPX). Our phylogenetic analyses reveal that trypanosomatid MIPs distribute exclusively between aquaglyceroporin (GLP) and AQPX, being the AQPX family expanded in the Metakinetoplastina common ancestor before the origin of the parasitic order Trypanosomatida. Synteny analysis shows how African trypanosomes specifically lost AQPXs, whereas American trypanosomes specifically lost GLPs. AQPXs diverge from already described MIPs on crucial residues. Together, our results expose the diversity of trypanosomatid MIPs and will aid further functional, structural, and physiological research needed to face the potentiality of the AQPXs as gateways for trypanocidal drugs.

Caloric Restriction and Cardiovascular Health: the Good, the Bad, and the Renin-Angiotensin System

Much excitement exists over the cardioprotective and life-extending effects of caloric restriction (CR). This review integrates population studies with experimental animal research to address the positive and negative impact of mild and severe CR on cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology, with a particular focus on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). We also highlight the gaps in knowledge and areas ripe for future physiological research.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ZUMBA KIDS IMPLEMENTATION INTO PHYSICAL EDUCATION OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PUPILS

The demand to improve physical education process of elementary school pupils by the tools of innovative dancing fitness branch – Zumba Kids is described in the article. Positive changes in dynamics among children have occurred in indicators of functional and physical preparation in conditions of the experiment. The goal of the work is the optimization process of physical education of elementary school pupils by Zumba Kids tools. There were investigated children’s physical development, functional and physical preparation and experimentally was checked the effectiveness of the implementation program of Zumba Kids tolls into process of physical education. There were 54 participants, 26 among them are boys and 28 are girls (the children’s age is 9 years old). The methods of the research are theoretical analysis and literature sources generalization; physiological research methods; pedagogical observation (passing of control standards); pedagogical experiment and mathematical statistics methods. There are presented and scientifically justified the program of implementing Zumba Kids tools into physical education lessons of elementary school pupils. The content of the program consists of the synthesis of energetic modern dances with aerobics, fitness exercises, stretching and also exercises for breathing exercises and muscle relaxation. The elaborated program is realized in the educational process and proved its effectiveness. The results of investigation have shown its positive influence on the functional and physical preparation of elementary school pupils. It was proved by mathematical statistics methods.