Macro- and micro- elements in some herbal drug raw materials and their water extracts consumed in Poland

The concentrations of seven macro- and microelements (K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn) in 59 herbs (herbs, leaves, flowers, fruits, roots), which are commercially available and frequently used in Poland for medical purposes as well as in their water extracts (infusions and decoctions), were determined after microwave mineralization. The data obtained show that all herbal raw materials analysed contain macroelements in the range of mg g⁻¹ on d.w. whereas microelements in the range of mg kg⁻¹ on d.w. and that elemental concentrations varied widely. On the basis of a comparison of concentrations of elements in herbal raw materials examined and water extracts prepared from them, the extraction efficiency was expressed as a percent of the total content of each element present in the infusion or decoction. The percentages of macro- and micro- elements leaching from different morphological parts of plants into water extracts varied across a wide range of values, from 1% in the case of Na to 56% in the case of K. Real daily intake of the macro- and microelements elements through one cup of infusions or decoctions were shown that water extracts from herbal raw materials are not an important source of bioelements in human diet.      

Pomegranate Seed Oil and Bitter Melon Extract Affect Fatty Acids Composition and Metabolism in Hepatic Tissue in Rats

Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and bitter melon dried fruits (BME) are used as natural remedies in folk medicine and as dietary supplements. However, the exact mechanism of their beneficial action is not known. The aim of study was to assess how the diet supplementation with PSO and/or with an aqueous solution of Momordica charantia affects the metabolism of fatty acids, fatty acids composition and the level of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in rat liver. Animals (Sprague-Dawley female rats, n = 48) were divide into four equinumerous groups and fed as a control diet or experimental diets supplemented with PSO, BME or both PSO and BME for 21 weeks. Fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. PSO added to the diet increased the rumenic acid content (p < 0.0001) and increased accumulation of n-6 fatty acids (p = 0.0001) in hepatic tissue. Enrichment of the diet either with PSO or with BME reduced the activity of Δ⁶-desaturase (D6D) (p = 0.0019), whereas the combination of those dietary factors only slightly increased the effect. Applied dietary supplements significantly reduced the PGE₂ level (p = 0.0021). No significant intensification of the influence on the investigated parameters resulted from combined application of PSO and BME. PSO and BME have potential health-promoting properties because they influence fatty acids composition and exhibit an inhibiting effect on the activity of desaturases and thus they contribute to the reduction in the metabolites of arachidonic acid (especially PGE₂).     

Health-Promoting Capacities of In Vitro and Cultivated Goji (Lycium chinense Mill.) Fruit and Leaves; Polyphenols,Antimicrobial Activity,Macro- and Microelements and Heavy Metals

There is a growing interest among the public in fruit with a positive impact on human health. Two goji berry cultivars (‘No. 1’ and ‘New Big’) were propagated in vitro, grown in an orchard and then evaluated for macro- and microelements and harmful heavy metals (i.e., Pb, Ni, and Cd). The leaves and fruit were also assessed for nutritional value, polyphenols and the antimicrobial activity of the leaves. ‘New Big’ was characterized by a higher content of macro elements in the leaves (in vitro and orchard) and a higher content of microelements in the fruit. The harmful substances content was below the minimum value. Furthermore, neither the fruit nor the leaves contained cadmium. This study also indicated that leaves had a higher content of polyphenols compared to the fruit. The fruits were characterized by their health-promoting capacities, while the leaves were characterized by their antibacterial activity. Among the Gram-positive bacteria, the most sensitive strain was Bacillus subtilis, and among the Gram-negative bacteria, it was Proteus vulgaris. Taking into consideration the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for minerals, goji berries can be declared to be a source of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and P.     

Benefits of Anthocyanin-Rich Black Rice Fraction and Wood Sterols to Control Plasma and Tissue Lipid Concentrations in Wistar Kyoto Rats Fed an Atherogenic Diet

Background: This study reports on the relative effects of administrating a cyanidin-3-O-glucoside-rich black rice fraction (BRF), a standardized wood sterol mixture (WS), and a combination of both to lower plasma and target tissue lipid concentrations in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats fed atherogenic diets. Methods: Male WKY (n = 40) rats were randomly divided into five groups, which included a nonatherogenic control diet and atherogenic diets that included a positive control and atherogenic diets supplemented with BRF or WS, respectively, and a combination of both BRF + WS. Plasma and target tissue liver, heart and aorta cholesterol, and triacylglycerides (TAG) content were also measured. Results: Rats fed atherogenic diets exhibited elevated hyperlipidemia compared to counterparts fed nonatherogenic diets (p < 0.001); this effect was mitigated by supplementing the atherogenic diets with BRF and WS, respectively (p < 0.05). Combining BRF with WS to enrich the supplement lowered cholesterol similar to the WS effect (p < 0.05) and lowered TAG characteristic to the BRF effect (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Rats fed diets containing BRF or WS effectively mitigate the hypercholesterolemia and elevated TAG induced by feeding an atherogenic diet. The benefit of adding BRF + WS together is relevant to the lipid parameter measured and is target tissue-specific.     

Fruits of ribes, rubus, vaccinium and prunus genus. Metal contents and genome

The production of fruits of genus Ribes, Rubus, Vaccinium and Prunus is particularly important in mountain communities. The contents of macro- and microelements in fruits from different cultivars of blueberry (Vaccinium corimbosus L.), red currant (Ribes rubrum L.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and cherry (Prunus avium L.) were determined. The anthocyanin and total polyphenol contents of the fruits were also determined. The results were analyzed with statistical methods. By using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) the various genera of the fruits were found to be differentiable on the basis of their metal contents. Multivariate statistical analysis, performed using principal component analysis (PCA), confirms that the different fruits can also be well discriminated by their contents of metals, total anthocyanins, and polyphenols.     

Ginseng Prong Added to Broiler Diets Reduces Lipid Peroxidation in Refrigerated and Frozen Stored Poultry Meats

Fatty acid content and lipid oxidation products were compared in chicken breast and leg meats derived from birds fed on animal-fat- and vegetable-oil-based diets, supplemented with ginseng prong powder. The first experiment examined polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content and the formation of primary and secondary lipid oxidation products in meats stored at refrigeration temperatures (4 °C) for up to 10 days, while the second experiment examined similar changes in the poultry meats when frozen stored at −18 °C, for up to six months. Results showed that initial lipid hydroperoxide concentrations increased in both breast and leg meat within the first week of refrigerated storage and also was ongoing during the first three to four months of frozen storage. A higher (p < 0.05) PUFA content in leg meat, especially in broilers fed a vegetable-oil-blended diet, corresponded to greater tendency for generation of primary lipid oxidation products after refrigerated and frozen storage (p < 0.05). The inclusion of powdered ginseng prong in broiler diets significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) secondary lipid oxidation products (e.g., malonaldehyde [MDA]) formation in both stored leg and breast meat, compared to controls. Significant interactions (p < 0.05) were obtained for storage time and inclusion of ginseng against production of primary and secondary lipid oxidation in broiler breast and leg meats from broilers fed PUFA-containing diets. We conclude that including ginseng prong in broiler growing diets represents a viable strategy to control lipid oxidation in refrigerated/cold-stored meat products.     

Chemometric deconvolution of gas chromatographic unresolved conjugated linoleic acid isomers triplet in milk samples

A generally known problem of GC separation of trans-7;cis-9; cis-9,trans-11; and trans-8,cis-10 CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) isomers was studied by GC–MS on 100 m capillary column coated with cyanopropyl silicone phase at isothermal column temperatures in a range of 140–170 °C. The resolution of these CLA isomers obtained at given conditions was not high enough for direct quantitative analysis, but it was, however, sufficient for the determination of their peak areas by commercial deconvolution software. Resolution factors of overlapped CLA isomers determined by the separation of a model CLA mixture prepared by mixing of a commercial CLA mixture and CLA isomer fraction obtained by the HPLC semi-preparative separation of milk fatty acids methyl esters were used to validate the deconvolution procedure. Developed deconvolution procedure allowed the determination of the content of studied CLA isomers in ewes’ and cows’ milk samples, where dominant isomer cis-9,trans-11 is eluted between two small isomers trans-7,cis-9 and trans-8,cis-10 (in the ratio up to 1:100).     

Comparison of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes with respect to the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids

The aim of our work was to characterize linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes divided into groups with high and low content of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Out of 32 linseed genotypes, 68.75 % represented high alpha-linolenic genotypes and 31.25 % were genotypes with low ALA content. Proportional representation of fatty acids was realized according to the norm (Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing, 1994). Oil content was analyzed according to the internal methodology of Agritec Ltd., based on the norm (Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing, 2011). The content of total fat ranged from 36.22 % to 46.35 %, that of ALA from 1.10 % to 65.20 %, and that of linoleic acid (LA) from 11.10 % to 75.00 % in the analyzed seed samples within all groups. The genotypes were divided also according to the seed color and a linear correlation between all three parameters within these groups was observed. Negative linear dependence was confirmed between parameters; ALA and LA content in the groups: high ALA brown seed (p < 0.0001; correlation coefficient (r) = ?0.70), and high ALA yellow seed (p < 0.001; r = ?0.36). Also, positive linear dependence between the total fat and the LA content in the groups: low ALA brown seed (p < 0.001; r = 0.34); low ALA yellow seed (p < 0.0001; r = 0.62), was found.     

The Potential of the Marine Microalga Diacronema lutheri in the Prevention of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in High-Fat-Fed Wistar Rats

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 series (n-3 LC-PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, are known to exert preventive effects on obesity and metabolic syndrome. Mainly consumed in the form of fish oil, LC-PUFAs n-3 are also found in significant quantities in other sources such as certain microalgae. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Diacronema lutheri (Dia), a microalga rich in n-3 LC-PUFAs, on metabolic disorders associated with obesity. Three groups of male Wistar rats (n = 6 per group) were submitted for eight weeks to a standard diet or high-fat and high-fructose diet (HF), supplemented or not with 12% of Dia (HF-Dia). Compared to HF rats, HF-Dia rats showed a 41% decrease in plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) and an increase in plasma cholesterol (+35%) as well as in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+51%) without change to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Although fasting glycemia did not change, glucose and insulin tolerance tests highlighted an improvement in glucose and insulin homeostasis. Dia supplementation restored body weight and fat mass, and decreased levels of liver TAG (−75%) and cholesterol (−84%). In HF-Dia rats, leptin was decreased (−30%) below the control level corresponding to a reduction of 68% compared to HF rats. Similarly, the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 were restored up to control levels, corresponding to a 74% and 58% increase in HF rats, respectively. In contrast, the level of IL-6 remained similar in the HF and HF-Dia groups and about twice that of the control. In conclusion, these results indicated that the D. lutheri microalga may be beneficial for the prevention of weight gain and improvement in lipid and glucose homeostasis.     

Mucuna pruriens Administration Minimizes Neuroinflammation and Shows Anxiolytic,Antidepressant and Slimming Effects in Obese Rats

This study evaluated the effect of Mucuna pruriens (MP) administration on neuroinflammation and behavioral and murinometric parameters in obese rats. Proximate composition, oligosaccharide and phenolic compound profile of MP were determined. Wistar adult male rats were randomized into healthy (HG) and obese group (OG). The HG consumed a control chow diet while OG consumed a cafeteria diet for eight weeks. Then, they were subdivided into: Healthy (HG); Healthy with MP administration (HGMP); Obese (OG); Obese with MP administration (OGMP), with the consumption of the respective diets remaining for another eight weeks, in addition to gavage with MP extract to supplemented groups (750 mg/kg weight). MP presented a composition rich in proteins and phenolic compounds, especially catechin, in addition to 1-kestose and levodopa. Supplementation reduced food intake, body weight, and thoracic and abdominal circumferences in obese rats. MP showed anxiolytic and antidepressant effects and reduced morphological damage and expression of interleukin 6 in the hippocampus of obese rats. MP treatment showed satietogenic, slimming, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, besides to minimizing hippocampal neuroinflammation in obese rats. Our results demonstrated the potential anti-obesity of MP which are probably related to the high content of bioactive compounds present in this plant extract.     

An ab initio evaluation of the role of p,π interaction: I. Ethylene derivatives

The RHF/6-311G(d) and MP2/6-311G(d) calculations with full geometry optimization were performed for XCH=CH₂ molecules (X = F, Cl, Br, CH₃, CH₂CH₃, CH₂F, CHO). The p _y electron density distribution in these molecules and the bonding molecular orbitals formed by the p _y orbitals of atoms of the planar fragment of these molecule (atomic orbitals whose symmetry axes are perpendicular to this plane) are not determined by the p,π conjugation between the lone electron pair of the heteroatom in substituent X and π electrons of the C=C bond. Changes in the population of the p _y orbitals of the halogen and carbon atoms in going from X = F to X = Cl and Br are not associated with changes in the extent of this p,π interaction. Taking into account the electon correlation in the MP2 method does not noticeably alter the features of the electron density distribution in these molecules estimated by restricted Hartree-Fock calculations.     

Synthesis,properties, and antianemic activity of new metal complexes of sodium pectinate with iron and calcium

A new water-soluble complex based on sodium pectinate with iron and calcium (P-NaFeCa) was synthesized. The regularities of the complexation of sodium pectinate (with a 35% content of COONa groups) with biogenic metals Ca and Fe were studied. The content of macro- and microelements was determined by atomic emission spectrometry; the product was identified by IR spectroscopy. Using atomic force microscopy, it was found that the average particle size of P-NaFeCa is ~170 nm. The efficiency of P-NaFeCa (per os) was studied for the first time in animals with hemolytic anemia modeled by administration of phenylhydrazine. It was experimentally shown that in vivo P-NaCaFe at a dose of 60 mg kg^–1 containing 50% of the recommended therapeutic dose of iron helps to recover the number of erythrocytes and mean concentration hemoglobin in erythrocyte, which indicates the efficiency of P-NaCaFe as an agent restoring the blood parameters after exposure to hemolytic poisons.

     

An ab initio evaluation of the role of p,π interaction: II. Molecules of the CH3COX series

The RHF/6-311G(d) and MP2/6-311G(d) calculations with full geometry optimization were performed for CH₃COX molecules (X = F, Cl, Br, CH₃). Variations in the populations of the p _y orbitals of their halogen and carbon atoms (orbitals whose symmetry axes are perpendicular to the molecular plane) from X = F to X = Cl, Br, and CH₃ are not associated with variations in the extent of the p,π conjugation between the lone electron pair of the halogen atom and the π-electron system of the carbonyl group. The bonding molecular orbitals formed by these atomic p _y orbitals are not determined by this interaction. The RHF/6-311G(d) and MP2/6-311G(d) calculations give similar results.     

Human Saliva-Based Quantitative Monitoring of Clarithromycin by Flow Injection Chemiluminescence Analysis: A Pharmacokinetic Study

Human saliva quantitative monitoring of clarithromycin (CLA) by chemiluminescence (CL) with flow injection analysis was proposed for the first time, which was based on the quenching effect of CLA on luminol–bovine serum albumin (BSA) CL system with a linear range from 7.5?×?10^?4 to 2.0 ng/ml. This proposed approach, offering a maximum sample throughput of 100 h^?1, was successfully applied to the quantitative monitoring of CLA levels in human saliva during 24 h after a single oral dose of 250 mg intake, with recoveries of 95.2～109.0 % and relative standard deviations lower than 6.5 % (N?=?7). Results showed that CLA reached maximum concentration of 2.28?±?0.02 μg/ml at approximately 3 h, and the total elimination ratio was 99.6 % in 24 h. The pharmacokinetic parameters including absorption rate constant (0.058?±?0.006 h^?1), elimination rate constant (0.149?±?0.009 h^?1) and elimination half-life time (4.66?±?0.08 h) were obtained. A comparison of human saliva and urine monitoring was also given. The mechanism study of BSA–CLA interaction revealed the binding of CLA to BSA is an entropy driven and spontaneous process through hydrophobic interaction, with binding constant K _BSA–CLA of 4.78?×?10⁶ l/mol and the number of binding sites n of 0.82 by flow injection–chemiluminescence model. Molecular docking analysis further showed CLA might be in subdomain IIA of BSA, with K _BSA–CLA of 6.82?×?10⁵ l/mol and ΔG of ?33.28 kJ/mol.     

PAK1 as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Male Smokers with EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

P21-activated kinases (PAKs) are serine/threonine protein kinases that contribute to several cellular processes. Here, we aimed to determine the prognostic value of PAK1 and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and five-year survival rates in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We evaluated PAK1 mRNA and protein expression in NSCLC cells and resected tumor specimens, as well as in healthy human bronchial epithelial cells and adjacent healthy lung tissues, respectively, for effective comparison. Immunohistochemical tissue microarray analysis of 201 NSCLC specimens showed the correlation of PAK1 expression with clinicopathological characteristics. The mRNA and protein expression of PAK1 were 2.9- and 4.3-fold higher in six of seven NSCLC cell types and human tumors (both, p < 0.001) than in healthy human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells and adjacent healthy lung tissues, respectively. Decreased survival was significantly associated with PAK1 overexpression in the entire cohort (χ² = 8.48, p = 0.0036), men (χ² = 17.1, p < 0.0001), and current and former smokers (χ² = 19.2, p < 0.0001). Notably, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive lung cancer patients with high PAK1 expression showed higher mortality rates than those with low PAK1 expression (91.3% vs. 62.5%, p = 0.02). Therefore, PAK1 overexpression could serve as a molecular target for the treatment of EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer, especially among male patients and current/former smokers.     

Bacterial Diversity Correlates with Overall Survival in Cancers of the Head and Neck,Liver, and Stomach

One in five cancers is attributed to infectious agents, and the extent of the impact on the initiation, progression, and disease outcomes may be underestimated. Infection-associated cancers are commonly attributed to viral, and to a lesser extent, parasitic and bacterial etiologies. There is growing evidence that microbial community variation rather than a single agent can influence cancer development, progression, response to therapy, and outcome. We evaluated microbial sequences from a subset of infection-associated cancers—namely, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). A total of 470 paired tumor and adjacent normal samples were analyzed. In STAD, concurrent presence of EBV and Selemonas sputigena with a high diversity index were associated with poorer survival (HR: 2.23, 95% CI 1.26–3.94, p = 0.006 and HR: 2.31, 95% CI 1.1–4.9, p = 0.03, respectively). In LIHC, lower microbial diversity was associated with poorer overall survival (HR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.5, p = 0.14). Bacterial within-sample diversity correlates with overall survival in infection-associated cancers in a subset of TCGA cohorts.     

Preservation of Contractile Reserve and Diastolic Function by Inhibiting the NLRP3 Inflammasome with OLT1177® (Dapansutrile) in a Mouse Model of Severe Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Due to Non-Reperfused Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a product of the NLRP3 inflammasome, modulates cardiac contractility and diastolic function. We proposed that OLT1177^® (dapansutrile), a novel NLRP3 inhibitor, could preserve contractile reserve and diastolic function after myocardial infarction (MI). We used an experimental murine model of severe ischemic cardiomyopathy through the ligation of the left coronary artery without reperfusion, and after 7 days randomly assigned mice showing large anterior MI (>4 akinetic segments), increased left ventricular (LV) dimensions ([LVEDD] > 4.4 mm), and reduced function (LV ejection fraction < 40%) to a diet that was enriched with OLT1177^® admixed with the chow in the diet at 3.75 g/kg (Group 1 [n = 10]) or 7.5 g/kg (Group 2 [n = 9]), or a standard diet as the no-treatment control group (Group 3 [n = 10]) for 9 weeks. We measured the cardiac function and contractile reserve with an isoproterenol challenge, and the diastolic function with cardiac catheterization at 10 weeks following the MI surgery. When compared with the control (Group 3), the mice treated with OLT1177 (Group 1 and 2) showed significantly greater preservation of their contractile reserve (the percent increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] after the isoproterenol challenge was +33 ± 11% and +40 ± 6% vs. +9 ± 7% in the standard diet; p < 0.05 and p < 0.005 for Group 1 and 2, respectively) and of diastolic function measured as the lower left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (3.2 ± 0.5 mmHg or 4.5 ± 0.5 mmHg vs. 10.0 ± 1.6 mmHg; p < 0.005 and p < 0.009 respectively). No differences were noted between the resting LVEF of the MI groups. These effects were independent of the effects on the ventricular remodeling after MI. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition with OLT1177^® can preserve β-adrenergic responsiveness and prevent left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in a large non-reperfused anterior MI mouse model. OLT1177^® could therefore be used to prevent the development of heart failure in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.     

Simultaneous,real-time measurement of nitric oxide and oxygen dynamics during cardiac ischemia-reperfusion of the rat utilizing sol-gel-derived electrochemical microsensors

In this study, we simultaneously measured nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen (O₂) dynamics in the myocardium during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) utilizing sol-gel modified electrochemical NO and O₂ microsensors. In addition, we attempted to clarify the correlation between NO release in the ischemic period and O₂ restoration in the myocardium after reperfusion, comparing a control heart with a remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC)-treated heart as an attractive strategy for myocardial protection. Rat hearts were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (n = 5) and an RIPC group (n = 5, with RIPC treatment). Myocardia that underwent RIPC treatment (182 ± 70 nM, p < 0.05) released more NO during the ischemic period than those of the control group (63 ± 41 nM). The restoration value of oxygen tension (pO₂) in the RIPC group significantly increased and was restored to pre-ischemic levels (92.6 ± 36.8%); however, the pO₂ of the control group did not increase throughout the reperfusion period (5.7 ± 7.5%, p = 0.001). Myocardial infarct size measurements revealed a significant decrease in cell death in the myocardium region of the RIPC group (41.44 ± 6.42%, p = 0.001) compared with the control group (60.05 ± 10.91%). As a result, we showed that the cardioprotective effect of RIPC could be attributed to endogenous NO production during the ischemic period, which subsequently promoted reoxygenation in post-ischemic myocardia during early reperfusion. Our results suggest that the promotion of endogenous formation during an ischemic episode might be helpful as a therapeutic strategy for protecting the myocardium from IR injury. Additionally, our NO and O₂ perm-selective microsensors could be utilized to evaluate the effect of drug or treatment.     

MicroRNA-134-5p and the Extent of Arterial Occlusive Disease Are Associated with Risk of Future Adverse Cardiac and Cerebral Events in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting for Symptomatic Carotid Artery Disease

There is little known about the prognostic value of serum microRNAs (miRs) in diabetic patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery disease (ICAS) who underwent stent supported angioplasty (PTA) for ICAS. The present study aimed to investigate expression levels of selected miRs for future major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) as a marker in diabetic patients following ICAS-PTA. The expression levels of 11 chosen circulating serum miRs were compared in 37 diabetic patients with symptomatic ICAS and 64 control group patients with symptomatic ICAS, but free of diabetes. The prospective median follow-up of 84 months was performed for cardiovascular outcomes. Diabetic patients, as compared to control subjects, did not differ with respect to age (p = 0.159), distribution of gender (p = 0.375), hypertension (p = 0.872), hyperlipidemia (p = 0.203), smoking (p = 0.115), coronary heart disease (p = 0.182), lower extremities arterial disease (LEAD, p = 0.731), and miRs expressions except from lower miR-16-5p (p < 0.001). During the follow-up period, MACCE occurred in 16 (43.2%) diabetic and 26 (40.6%) non-diabetic patients (p = 0.624). On multivariate Cox analysis, hazard ratio (HR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI) for diabetic patients associated with MACCE were miR-134-5p (1.12; 1.05–1.21, p < 0.001), miR-499-5p (0.16; 0.02–1.32, p = 0.089), hs-CRP (1.14; 1.02–1.28; p = 0.022), prior myocardial infarction (8.56, 1.91–38.3, p = 0.004), LEAD (11.9; 2.99–47.9, p = 0.005), and RAS (20.2; 2.4–167.5, p = 0.005), while in non-diabetic subjects, only miR-16-5p (1.0006; 1.0001–1.0012, p = 0.016), miR-208b-3p (2.82; 0.91–8.71, p = 0.071), and hypertension (0.27, 0.08–0.95, p = 0.042) were associated with MACCE. Our study demonstrated that different circulating miRs may be prognostic for MACCE in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients with symptomatic ICAS. Higher expression levels of miR-134 were prognostic for MACCE in diabetic patients, while higher expression levels of miR-16 were prognostic in non-diabetic patients.     

Features of the composition and structural transformations of manganese minerals of the lake Bol’shoe Miassovo (South Ural)

The mineral and microelement composition of natural manganese minerals from iron-manganese concretions of the Bol’shoe Miassovo lake (South Ural) is investigated. The structural transformations of the samples under the effect of different temperatures are studied. Apart from layered 9.6 Å and 7.2 Å structures of manganese minerals the lake samples often contain various manganese-containing carbonates. For carbonate minerals by IR spectroscopy the dependence of the wavenumbers of ν₂ and ν₄ vibrations of the CO₃ group on the mineral composition is analyzed. The composition of macro- and microelements of iron-manganese concretions of Bol’shoe Miassovo lake varies in wide ranges not only in different samples, but also in different parts of the same sample. An analysis of the microstructure of lake manganese concretions revealed their biomorphic nature that is exhibited in globe-shaped to filament organic bacterial forms.