Gut Microbiota Metabolites in Major Depressive Disorder. Deep Insights into Their Pathophysiological Role and Potential Translational Applications

The gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem essential for the proper functioning of the organism, affecting the health and disease status of the individuals. There is continuous and bidirectional communication between gut microbiota and the host, conforming to a unique entity known as “holobiont”. Among these crosstalk mechanisms, the gut microbiota synthesizes a broad spectrum of bioactive compounds or metabolites which exert pleiotropic effects on the human organism. Many of these microbial metabolites can cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) or have significant effects on the brain, playing a key role in the so-called microbiota-gut-brain axis. An altered Microbiota-Gut-Brain (MGB) axis is a major characteristic of many neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD). Significative differences between gut eubiosis and dysbiosis in mental disorders like MDD with their different metabolite composition and concentrations are being discussed. In the present review, the main microbial metabolites (short-chain fatty acids -SCFAs-, bile acids, amino acids, tryptophan -trp- derivatives, and more), their signaling pathways and functions will be summarized to explain part of MDD pathophysiology. Conclusions from promising translational approaches related to microbial metabolome will be addressed in more depth to discuss their possible clinical value in the management of MDD patients.

Low Intensity Microwave Fields and Radiation and Their Interaction with the Human Body

Sources of low-intensity microwave signals formation, which affect the metabolism processes when they interact with human body, are considered in the article. It’s noticed that increasing intensity level of the technogenic signals in environment significantly exceeds natural electromagnetic fields and radiation (EMR). The peculiarities of the registration and measurement of low-intensity signals parameters of the microwave range are considered. The processes of the interaction of the microwave signals and human organism are analyzed. Formation mechanisms of the positive and negative microwave flows of the electromagnetic radiation are revealed. Particularly, possible formation mechanism of the microwave EMR fluxes of implants in the human body. The results of the experimental study of the EMR signals levels of the objects contacting with human body, partly materials for bone defects replacement and soft tissues regeneration so as materials for physiotherapy, are given. The use of the term “electromagnetic compatibility” for materials which contacting the human body, is proposed. The expediency of its use is proven. Microwave properties of materials for clothes, minerals and building materials, which can affect the human body and environment, have been also studied.

Wavelet introscopy of human organism bionets

In domestic and foreign practice, a great deal of experience has been accumulated in the creation of means for monitoring the functional state of the human body. The existing complexes mainly analyze the electrocardiogram, blood pressure and a number of other physiological parameters. Diagnostics is often based on formal statistical data which are not always correct due to the nonstationarity of bioprocesses and without taking into account their physical nature. An urgent task of monitoring the state of the cardiovascular system is the creation of effective algorithms for computer technologies to process biosignals based on nonlinear dynamic models of body systems since biosystems and bioprocesses have a nonlinear nature and fractal structure. The nervous and muscular systems of the heart, the vascular and bronchial systems of the human body are examples of such structures. The connection of body systems with their organization in the form of self-similar fractal structures with scaling close to the “golden ratio” makes it possible to diagnose them topically. It is possible to obtain detailed information about the state of the human body’s bio-networks for topical diagnostics on the basis of the wavelet analysis of biosignals (the so-called wavelet-introscopy). With the help of wavelet transform, it is possible to reveal the structure of biosystems and bioprocesses, as a picture of the lines of local extrema of wavelet diagrams of biosignals. Mathematical models and software for wavelet introscopy make it possible to extract additional information from biosignals about the state of biosystems. Early detection of latent forms of diseases using wavelet introscopy can shorten the cure time and reduce the consequences of disorders of the functional state of the body (FSO), and reduce the risk of disability. Taking into account the factors of organizing the body’s biosystems in the form of self-similar fractal structures with a scaling close to the “golden ratio” makes it possible to create a technique for topical diagnostics of the most important biosystems of the human body.

Neutrophils—From Bone Marrow to First-Line Defense of the Innate Immune System

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear cells; PMNs) form a first line of defense against pathogens and are therefore an important component of the innate immune response. As a result of poorly controlled activation, however, PMNs can also mediate tissue damage in numerous diseases, often by increasing tissue inflammation and injury. According to current knowledge, PMNs are not only part of the pathogenesis of infectious and autoimmune diseases but also of conditions with disturbed tissue homeostasis such as trauma and shock. Scientific advances in the past two decades have changed the role of neutrophils from that of solely immune defense cells to cells that are responsible for the general integrity of the body, even in the absence of pathogens. To better understand PMN function in the human organism, our review outlines the role of PMNs within the innate immune system. This review provides an overview of the migration of PMNs from the vascular compartment to the target tissue as well as their chemotactic processes and illuminates crucial neutrophil immune properties at the site of the lesion. The review is focused on the formation of chemotactic gradients in interaction with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the influence of the ECM on PMN function. In addition, our review summarizes current knowledge about the phenomenon of bidirectional and reverse PMN migration, neutrophil microtubules, and the microtubule organizing center in PMN migration. As a conclusive feature, we review and discuss new findings about neutrophil behavior in cancer environment and tumor tissue.

PROBLEM OF ANTIBIOTICS IN NATURAL WATER: A REVIEW

The paper is devoted for influence of antibiotics contamination of natural water on environment, aquatic biosystems and public health and possible solutions of this problem. Untreated or ineffectively treated wastewater is a source of different pathogenic microorganisms and toxic chemicals, including organic and inorganic compounds. A lot of organic contaminants are genotoxic, provoke endocrine disruption and have immune toxicity. In modern world people use a lot of diverse antibiotics for the treatment of various bacterial infections, but antibiotic overuse and insufficient removal by wastewater treatment plants are resulted in accumulation and biotransformation of these compounds in aquatic environment. Antibiotics are pollutants which are very harmful for environment. They cause reduction in microbial biodiversity, including bacterial communities with important ecological functions. It provokes changes in water and soil properties, including pH, nutrients content, soil moisture and many others. Low concentrations of antibiotics cause an occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms which are resistant to antibiotics. It has very negative influence on public health due to increasing of health risk and complication of a medication. Antibiotic type, water and sediment compositions, pH, organic matter, specific surface area and temperature and insolation level have very big influence on distribution and behavior of antibiotics in natural water-sediment systems. Many antibiotics are biodegradable; they are transformed in human organism or by aquatic ecosystem (various plants, algae, bacteria, fungi, etc.). But some antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, are very stable. These persistent organics are dramatically more harmful for ecosystem stability. In case of ciprofloxacin antibiotics in surface water direct photolysis causes formation of organic compounds, which are more toxic and less photolabile than initial antibiotics. So, the toxicity of pollutants increases synergistically and it cannot be ignored. Nowadays antibiotics removal is very important in drinking water and wastewater treatment due to significant environment and health effects of these pollutants. There are a lot of approaches in antibiotic removal from water, including adsorption, nanofiltration, advanced oxidation processes, etc. All these methods have some advantages and disadvantages. Catalytic photodegradation is one of the most popular methods of antibiotic removal. This process is simple, highly effective and makes possible transformation of antibiotics into components with lower toxicity and environmental impact. Also photocatalysis do not produce a lot of wastes unlike coagulation (sludge) or nanofiltration (concentrate).

BIOTECHNOLOGY OF SOYA MULTI-COMPONENT FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS

The materials of the article present analytical and scientific-practical results of research of soy multi-component functional ingredients. Soy extract (or soy milk) is a valuable and cheap source of protein and other nutritious and biologically active components, like lipids, vitamins, mineral elements, isoflavones, flavonoids, saponins etc. But the presence of indigestible oligosaccharides and a bean flavor limit the consumption of soy milk. The soy oligosaccharides are known to be prebiotic for intestinal microbiota, particularly for probiotic microorganisms that hydrolyze them with the enzyme α-galactosidase. Isoflavones are known as phytoestrogens since they are similar to human estrogen in structure and function, and are recommended to prevent many hormonedependent diseases. In soy beans and unfermented soy products, isoflavones are present mainly as biologically inactive glycoside conjugates. Biologically active aglycones of soy isoflavones are substances that are assimilated by human organism from soy products faster and in higher amounts than their corresponding glycosides. The members of intestinal microbiota are predicted to play an important role also in the metabolism and bioavailability of isoflavones since they, synthesizing β-glycosidase, cause hydrolysis of glycoside components, thus releasing the bioavailable and biologically active form of aglycone. In this work, we estimated the potential of some Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains to synthesize α-galactosidase and β-glycosidase, and to reduce respectively the amount of galactooligosaccharides and to convert isoflavones into their active forms, when growing in soy milk. Simultaneously, the profile of soy milk fermentation by the chosen probiotics was studied, as well as the proteolytic activity and accumulation of lactic acid by those probiotics, i. e. the possibility to produce soy-based polyfunctional fermented food products was investigated.

Influence of Classical Massage on Biochemical Markers of Oxidative Stress in Humans: Pilot Study

Classical massage is one of the most popular forms of conservative treatment in various diseases. Despite the wide scope of research, the mechanisms of massage are not fully known and understood. Apart from the well-described effects on individual body systems, there are few scientific reports on the effects of massage on the human body at the subcellular level. The study was designed to assess changes in oxidative stress parameters in healthy volunteers after a single session of classical massage. 29 healthy volunteers aged 22.24 ± 3.64 participated in the study. Before and 30 minutes after the massage procedures, blood samples were taken by experienced personnel. Biochemical markers of oxidative homeostasis were assessed with highly specific methods for each parameter: oxidase ceruloplasmin, glutathione, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase. The study demonstrates that massage therapy caused statistically significant decrease in the concentration of glutathione peroxidase (red blood cells) and increase in the level of glutathione peroxidase (plasma), superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde. In contrast, statistically significant changes in the hematocrit, glutathione, NO2-/NO3-, and oxidase ceruloplasmin were not observed. The results show that complex influence of classical massage therapy on human organism may be reflected in parameters of the oxidative stress. To understand this mechanism clearly, further research is needed.

Human Physiological Parameters Related to Solar and Geomagnetic Disturbances: Data from Different Geographic Regions

It is well known that the various manifestations of space weather can influence a wide range of human activities, from technological systems to human health. Various earlier, as well as more recent multi-disciplinary heliobiological and biometeorological studies have revealed that the human organism is sensitive to environmental physical activity changes and reacts to them through variations of the physiological parameters of the human body. This paper constitutes an overview of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens investigations in regard to the possible effect of solar, geomagnetic, and cosmic ray activity on human physiological parameters. The Athens Cosmic Ray and Solar Physics Groups collaborated with scientific teams from different countries, statistically processing and analyzing data related to human physiological parameters (such as mean heart rate, arterial systolic, and diastolic pressure), or the number of incidents of different types of cardiac arrhythmias and so forth, in relation to data concerning and describing geomagnetic activity (geomagnetic indices Ap and Dst) and variations in cosmic ray intensity (Forbush decreases and cosmic ray intensity enhancements). In total, four projects were carried out concerning data from different geographical regions (Baku, Azerbaijan; Kosice, Slovakia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Piraeus, Greece), covering different time periods and time scales (daily data or yearly data), and referring to different groups of individuals (selected healthy persons or random persons). The studies concluded with interesting results concerning the possible influence of geomagnetic and cosmic ray activity on the human physiological state.

Challenges of stem cell application in research and clinical practice – an update

There are multiple possible applications of stem cells in medicine, from cell-based therapies for degenerative and dystrophic conditions, through novel approaches in cancer treatment, to in vitro organ printing. However, there are still several challenges that need to be overcame before stem cells therapies can be successfully introduced worldwide on a large scale. These include sourcing of stem cells, preventing their aberrant progression and ethical concerns regarding their use in animals and humans. Among the multiple stem cell types present in the human organism from the period of embryonic development to adulthood, this review focuses on the three types that gain the most attention in relation to modern research: embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells. There are a number of obstacles that need to be removed before these cells can be widely applied in clinical practice, including the choice of the perfect source of stem cells, full elucidation of the mechanisms of stem cell differentiation and plasticity, and minimization of adverse side effect potential. Nonetheless, the focus of the scientific community on the topic of stem cells remains unhindered, bringing hope that all of the possible concerns will be addressed in the future.