To compare the activity of platelet glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in elderly patients with depression and in the control group, and to identify a possible relationship between the activity of these enzymes and clinical parameters of the disease.

We examined 42 elderly patients (60-86 years old) with depressive episodes of various nosological categories according to ICD-10: a single depressive episode (F32.0, F32.1), a depressive episode in recurrent depressive disorder (RDR - F33.0, F33.1), and a depressive episode in bipolar disorder (BD - F31.3). The GR, GST activity and the severity of depression were assessed twice: before the beginning of the course of 28-day antidepressant therapy (day 0) and on the 28th day of the course of therapy, using the Hamilton Depressive Scale (HAMD-17) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HARS).

As compared with the control group, a significant decrease in GST activity was found in patients before and after the course of therapy (p<0.0001 and p<0.0003, respectively), no significant difference in GR activity was found. Significant correlations of the platelet GR activity in patients before thetreatment course with the age of disease manifestation (R= -0.44; p=0.004, inverse correlation) and with its duration (R=0.43, p=0.004, direct correlation), estimated after a 28-day course of therapy. A significant inverse correlation of the baseline (before treatment) GR activity with the HAMD score estimated after the course of therapy (R=-0.440; p=0.009) was found only in women subgroup (n=33).

A pilot study has revealed a decrease in platelet GST activity, and a link between platelet GR activity and the severity of depression after a course of therapy. The results obtained indicate the promise of further study of glutathione metabolism enzymes as a biomarker for assessing the state.

The purpose of the study was to examine the condition of the pro-antioxidant balance of the homogenates of tissues of the oral mucosal wound surface in vivo experiment under the photodynamic action of combined two-wave radiation to eliminate its damaging effect on the structures of cell membranes.

On the mucous membrane of the cheeks of sexually mature female autocrats of Wistar rats (n=72) experimental models of wound surfaces with a diameter of 3 mm were formed. The animals were divided into groups: control (n=36) and experimental (n=36). In the experimental group, a single photodynamic exposure was carried out for the 1st postoperative day with a sequential combined light radiation at two wavelengths (660 nm and 405 nm) with a total dose of 15 J/cm². Wound management was carried out traditionally in the control group of animals. The observation periods were 3, 7 and 14 days.

Macroscopic examination of the wound surface indicated complete epithelialization of the wound on the 7th day in the experimental group of animals and on the 14th day in the control group. Significant and sharp decline in free-radical oxidation processes (Imax, S, Z index) intensity was recorded in the experimental animals at earlier periods in comparison with the initial data and control results, when analyzing the results of studies of homogenates of animal tissues. A similar pattern was observed in the evaluation of lipid peroxidation products, especially in the early days of observations. The reported results were supported by the activation of antioxidant enzymes in the experimental group compared to control data and baseline data.

Thus, a combined photodynamic action using two wavelengths with a combined dose of 15 J/cm² provides safety and low invasiveness for use on the oral mucous membrane and, may be used to stimulate regeneration of the wound surface, which requires further experimental testing.

Primary open-angle glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness in all countries of the world. The pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma has not been resolved. In addition to increased intraocular pressure, pathogenetic factors of this disease such as reduced systemic blood pressure, deterioration of ocular blood flow, as well as vascular dysregulation, reperfusion damage and oxidative stress of ocular tissues are now generally recognized. The role of α1-adrenoreceptors in regulation of, for example, ocular blood flow, blood flow in the retina, permeability of the vascular wall etc has already been described.

To identify the effects of different subtypes of α1-adrenoreceptors on the level of systemic blood pressure in laboratory mice.

Features of blood pressure of 36 laboratory mice older than 18 months having a genetic defect (lines ADRA-1A, ADRA-1D and ADRA-1D) of one of the subtypes of α1-adrenoreceptors (α1a, α1b, α1d) were studied. The control group included ten healthy laboratory mice of the same age. The blood pressure of mice was measured with modern high-precision and noninvasive method using the Coda^TM Standard system (Kent Scientific Corporation, U.S.A.).

The mice of the ADRA-1A line were revealed to have reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and maximum level of pulse pressure, as well as the greatest fluctuations of pulse pressure; for the ADRA-1B line - the highest levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure; for the ADRA-1D line - the smallest systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the minimum values of pulse pressure.

The obtained results show the specific contribution of α1a, α1b and α1d subtypes of the adrenoreceptors in the maintenance of normal hemodynamic of an organism, which should be considered when studying pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma.