The following reference [93] has been retracted and should be removed from the original publication [1]: 93 [...]

Background: Menopause, a critical period during a woman's life, is characterized by various changes, including disturbances in their oxidative balance and circadian rhythm. Currently, the gut microbiome is suggested as an important participant in these processes. Methods: This study involved 96 menopausal women. Their sleep quality was assessed using three questionnaires: the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The GSH and GSTP1 contents in the serum were measured by means of immunoassay methods, while the composition of the gut microbiome was determined via molecular genetic methods. Results: E. coli, K. oxytoca, S. aureus, Enterobacter spp., Shigella spp., Streptococcus spp., Prevotella spp., and M. stadmanae were found to correlate with the GSH content in different sleep groups, while the presence of K. oxytoca, S. aureus, Enterococcus spp., K. pneumoniae, and M. stadmanae is also important for the GSH level in several of these groups. F. prausnitzii, S. aureus, P. micra, Acinetobacter spp., and E. rectale are associated with GSTP1 concentration in various sleep groups, while the presence of F. nucleatum and P. micra is also relevant for the GSTP1 content in some of these groups. Conclusions: Thus, in menopausal women, the composition and structure of the gut microbiota are associated with sleep disorders. GSH and GSTP1 are associated with some gut microbiome markers in menopausal women, but these relationships differ in different sleep disorders.

Overweight and obesity are major public health concerns among children and adolescents worldwide. The most prevalent form is exogenous–constitutional obesity, which is driven by a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet in which caloric intake exceeds energy expenditure. Beyond their association with chronic disease, these factors are closely linked to deficits in cognitive development and executive functions essential for learning (including working memory, sustained attention, planning, behavioral self-regulation, and cognitive flexibility). Oxidative stress (OS), characterized by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and extracellular fluids, is a significant potential mediator in childhood obesity and an important contributor to its comorbidities. The antioxidant defense system (AOD)’s activity largely depends on levels of trace element cofactors, which determine the body’s resistance to adverse environmental factors (the “maladaptation phenomenon”). OS and trace element deficiencies contribute to the development of morphological changes in the brain, thus serving as a critical connecting link between childhood obesity and cognitive impairment. Non-pharmacological interventions are the most accessible and effective approach for prevention and treatment. Bioactive compounds derived from food and natural plants, classified as antioxidants and phytopreparations, may represent a promising complementary approach. These compounds are most effective when used in combination with sustained lifestyle modifications in children. Research in this area can help define future directions for study and develop targeted intervention strategies in the pediatric population. The aim of this review is to examine the relationship between OS, antioxidant cofactor micronutrients, and cognitive outcomes in childhood obesity and to explore mechanisms, evidence, and therapeutic opportunities.

We studied the histological structure of the hippocampus in male and female Wistar rats kept on a standard vivarium diet (StD) or a high-calorie diet (HCD) for 16 weeks. The effect of diet-induced visceral obesity correction was also evaluated. To this end, the rats receiving HCD for 8 weeks were transferred to StD for the next 8 weeks. HCD for 16 weeks led to diet-induced visceral obesity and disturbances in the histological structure of the hippocampus in both males and females. The most typical consequences of HCD were neurodegenerative signs, which appeared in different regions of the hippocampus. Transition to StD was effective not only in correcting visceral obesity, but also in leveling neurodegenerative changes in the structure of hippocampal neurons in male and female rats.

Background: The enterotype concept allows the differentiation of gut microbiota in relation to individual characteristics and is determined by the genetics and external stressors of the host. It was previously shown that not all clustering methods can accurately identify such enterotypes. Therefore, this pilot study primarily aimed to compare different algorithms for enterotype definition and to estimate the factors that correlate with the differentiation of the gut microbiota in adolescents with different body weights. Methods: Adolescents with normal body weight (N) and obesity (O) (aged 11–17 years) were included in this pilot study. Based on the analysis of the V3–V4 variable regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon libraries, the main enterotypes of the gut microbiota of adolescents were characterized using three approaches (E-typing A, B, and C) according to the bacterial taxa that were chosen for differentiation. For sample clustering, we used Bray–Curtis, Jensen–Shannon divergence, and weighted and unweighted UniFrac distance metrics. Clustering was assessed using the silhouette index. Meanwhile, the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to determine the relationship between enterotype and biochemical parameters. Results: The O and N groups comprised 18 and 22 adolescents, respectively, and, according to anthropometric data, differed significantly only in weight and body mass index (BMI). The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) plot showed that the presence of minor and rare phylotypes in the gut microbiota differed between the two groups of adolescents. The distribution of individual samples based on the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) showed that the gut microbiomes in the adolescents were not grouped in the N or O groups but were distributed according to the composition of the main bacterial taxa. We assessed the contribution of the Bacteroides, Prevotella, Subdoligranulum, and Ruminococcus phylotypes to the microbiota of the adolescents in the two groups. The Subdoligranulum enterotype was significantly more represented in the N group than in the O group when the E-typing A approach to enterotyping was applied. Pairwise comparisons were performed with corrections for multiple testing between the biochemical parameter levels of the different enterotypes. Bilirubin levels were lower in adolescents with the gut microbiota enterotype Ruminococcus–Subdoligranulum than in those with the enterotype Bacteroides when the E-typing B approach was used for differentiation. Conclusions: This pilot study comprised a small group of adolescents with normal body weight and obesity; we identified Bacteroides as the main enterotype, regardless of body weight. A stable microbial community is formed in the gut during adolescence, which determines its stratification by enterotype.

The endogenous intoxication level was assessed based on the content of medium-weight molecules (MWM) and LPO products in the blood serum of women with uncomplicated pregnancy depending on the gestational age: 6-12, 18-22, 28-32, and 38-40 weeks. A significant increase in the MWM level at λ = 280 nm was found at weeks 28-32 compared to the second trimester (p = 0.05), as well as before delivery compared to the first trimester (p = 0.013). In the third trimester of pregnancy and before delivery, the substrates with double bonds and diene conjugates content increased (p < 0.05), but the levels of highly toxic TBA-active products before delivery did not differ from that at the beginning of the gestation process. These phase changes in LPO processes correspond to changes in the hormonal status of the body during uncomplicated pregnancy, and MWM measured at λ = 280 nm is a sensitive marker for monitoring of the endogenous intoxication level.

The parameters of oxidative damage of DNA, proteins, as well as the parameters of the thiol-disulfide system and C-reactive protein in adolescent girls and boys with exogenous constitutional obesity (ECO) were evaluated. In girls and boys with obesity, the levels of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (marker of DNA destruction) were higher than in controls. Evaluation of the activity of the thiol-disulfide system revealed increased levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and decreased levels of the reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSSG ratio (GSH/GSSG) in adolescents with ECO regardless of the sex in comparison with the control. C-reactive protein was also higher in the ECO groups regardless of the sex. The levels of glutathione peroxidase in obese boys were higher than in girls. In view of the revealed shifts, corrective measures with the prescription of drugs with antioxidant properties are recommended in adolescents with ECO to stabilize the indices.

Background. Even small amounts of alcohol have an extremely negative effect on the fetus, especially in the early stages of gestation. It is known that ethanol promotes the formation of free radicals, but there is no data on the nature of the oxidative stress development in pregnant women depending on its blood level.The aim. To assess the level lipid peroxidation products and superoxide dismutase activity in the first trimester of pregnancy for women, who consumed alcoholic bevera ges, depending on the phosphatidylethanol (PEth) level in the blood.Materials and methods. The study included 165 women in the first trimester of pregnancy aged 18 to 40 years. To identify the fact and amount of alcohol consumption, the direct biomarker of alcohol 16:0/18:1PEth in blood plasma was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Depending on the concentration of PEth, groups of women consuming different doses of alcohol were identified: group 1 – PEth concentration < 8 ng/ml (non-drinkers; n = 63); group 2 – PEth concentration from 8 to 45 ng/ml (drinkers of less than 1 dose; n = 66); group 3 – PEth concentration ≥ 45 ng/ml (drinkers of more than 1 dose; n = 36). The content of lipid peroxidation products and superoxide dismutase activity was determined by spectrophotometric methods.Results. It was found that lipid peroxidation intermediates level in the groups of women who consume alcohol, regardless of PEth 16:0/18:1 level in blood plasma, was significantly higher compared with the control (p < 0.05). The superoxide dismutase activity was higher in the group of pregnant women who consumed less than 1 dose of alcohol compared with the control (p < 0.05) and the group who consumed one or more doses of alcohol (p < 0.05).Conclusion. The obtained results indicate the activation of lipid peroxidation processes in the first trimester of pregnancy regardless of the dose of alcohol-containing products consumed.

We performed a matched-pair analysis of the content of GDF11 and GDF15 proteins in the plasma of patients (56 middle-aged men) with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and healthy volunteers (27 men with no complaints of sleep disorders). The groups were comparable in terms of age and presence of chronic diseases. No statistically significant differences in GDF11 content in the studied groups were revealed, while the content of GDF15 in the OSAS group was 1.3 times higher. These results require further research from the viewpoint of geriatric somnology and molecular biology

The tissue preparations of the pelvic veins obtained during laparoscopy were examined. The expression of markers of proliferation (Ki-67), apoptosis (p53), and angiogenesis (CD31, CD34), as well as estrogen and progesterone receptors in women with pelvic varicose veins was assessed by the immunohistochemical method. A decrease in the median expression of the proliferation marker (Ki-67) and estrogen and progesterone receptors and simultaneous increase in the expression of apoptosis marker (p53) and activation of angiogenesis processes (markers CD31 and CD34) were observed with increasing the severity of the disease. These data extend our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of pelvic varicose veins and contribute to the development of methods of pathogenetically based targeted therapy.

Understanding how gut flora interacts with oxidative stress has been the subject of significant research in recent years. There is much evidence demonstrating the existence of the microbiome–oxidative stress interaction. However, the biochemical basis of this interaction is still unclear. In this narrative review, possible pathways of the gut microbiota and oxidative stress interaction are presented, among which genetic underpinnings play an important role. Trimethylamine-N-oxide, mitochondria, short-chain fatty acids, and melatonin also appear to play roles. Moreover, the relationship between oxidative stress and the gut microbiome in obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic ethanol consumption, dietary supplements, and medications is considered. An investigation of the correlation between bacterial community features and OS parameter changes under normal and pathological conditions might provide information for the determination of new research methods. Furthermore, such research could contribute to establishing a foundation for determining the linkers in the microbiome–OS association.

The levels of endothelins were assessed in menopausal women with arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the acute phase of the moderate COVID-19. Women under observation (age 45-69 years) were divided into two groups. Control group consisted of women (n=16) who did not have COVID-19, were not vaccinated, and had no antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (IgG). The main group included women (n=63) in the acute phase of the moderate COVID-19 accompanied by pneumonia. According to the clinical and anamnestic data analysis, the main group was divided into subgroups: without AH and T2DM (n=21); with AH and without T2DM (n=32); and with AH and T2DM (n=10). The parameters of clinical blood analysis, as well as endothelin-1, endothelin-2, and endothelin-3 levels were assessed. In women with a moderate COVID-19, the endothelin-1 and endothelin-2 levels were increased compared to the control regardless of AH and T2DM status. We found no statistically significant differences in the studied parameters of endothelial dysfunction between the subgroups of menopausal women in the acute phase of the moderate COVID-19.

The article presents the results of a study of the processes of lipid peroxidation – antioxidant protection in girls and women, representatives of Caucasians and Mongoloids suffering from type 1 diabetes. It has been shown that in the presence of type 1 diabetes mellitus, Mongoloid girls and women have a lower intensity of lipoperoxidation processes and a higher activity of the antioxidant system compared to Caucasian girls and women. The revealed ethnic differences in metabolism in type 1 diabetes suggest the manifestation of adaptive capabilities in the indigenous population of Siberia (Mongoloids) and the development of disadaptation in the alien population (Caucasians).

The main pathophysiological triggers of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome are oxidative stress and hypoxia. These factors cause cellular and molecular disorders that characterize the aging process. The fact that the blood content of the differentiating protein GDF-15 (the “protein of senility”) increases with age, which was revealed by a number of researchers, arouses interest in its assessment in patients with OSA. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate changes in the content of GDF-15 under conditions of oxidative stress and intermittent nocturnal hypoxia with normalization of the nocturnal oxygen gradient in patients with OSA. The study involves 30 men aged 45–55 years with moderate OSA (main group, MG1) and 35 men of the same age without OSA (control group, CG). The MG1 patients are prescribed aРАР therapy (automatic positive airway pressure) during sleep for 6 months. These patients after treatment make up the second main group, MG2. Blood is taken from all the subjects in the morning to determine the content of lipid-peroxidation products and components of antioxidant defense (LPO-AOD) and GDF-15. The following methods are used to evaluate the results: questionnaires, polysomnographic monitoring, spectrometric and radioimmunoassay methods, and statistical analysis. According to the results, an imbalance of the LPO-AOD system with the predominance of oxidation processes in MG1 is revealed demonstrating the coefficient of oxidative stress, which statistically significantly decreases with the elimination of hypoxia and improvement of sleep structure. GDF-15 demonstrates significant differences between MG1 and CG patients with a predominance of content in the group of MG1 patients with OSA. In comparison with the indicators of MG2, no statistical differences are revealed.

We compared alpha diversity indices of the intestinal microbiota in adolescents with obesity and normal body weight, taking into account their ethnicity. Intestinal biocenosis was studied by metasequencing of amplicon libraries of V3-V4 fragments of the 16S rRNA gene. The alpha diversity of the microbiota was assessed using classical and alternative indices. Statistically significant differences in intestinal microbiota were observed between Russians with obesity and Buryats with normal body weight, as well as between Russians with obesity and Buryats with obesity when assessing the Shannon—Weaver, Chao1 indices, Faith phylogenetic diversity index, ACE, Fisher, Gini coefficient, Margalef, and Menkhinik indices. It was shown that alpha diversity indices can be used to assess significance of differences and variability of the intestinal microbiota in multifactorial diseases such as obesity in adolescents; however, the scope of application of the criteria should be considered.

The literature review examines the problem of obesity in modern society. It has been shown that obesity aggravates concomitant diseases, increases the probability of developing metabolic disorders and related pathologies, increases the risk of complications and mortality. The secretory function of adipose tissue, its participation in the regulation of biological processes is considered in detail. The concept of carbonyl stress and its components is revealed, the role of carbonyl compounds in the body is described, the metabolic pathways leading to the formation of carbonyl reaction products are shown, the participation of free radicals in these metabolic pathways is noted. The mechanisms of pathogenesis associated with the development of carbonyl stress in obesity are discussed; the greatest contribution to the development of car bonyl pathology in obesity is made by two types of processes: lipid peroxidation reactions resulting in the formation of carbonyl products of lipoperoxidation and the processes activated by hyperglycemia (glycolysis, polyol and hexоzamine pathways) leading to the formation of glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and active carbonyl forms of glucose. The question of the contribution of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOРР) to the development of carbonyl pathology in obesity remains controversial. It is assumed that AGEs and AOРР levels depend on the severity of obesity and the development of metabolic syndrome.

We studied the effects of visceral obesity induced by a high-calorie diet and health-improving variants of its correction on morphological characteristics of the muscle tissue in male Wistar rats. At stage I, the rats received standard (StD) or high-calorie diet (HCD) for 8 weeks. At stage II, the animals were divided into the following subgroups: no correction (StD and HCD), switching from HCD to StD (HCD/StD) and/or connection of physical activity in the form of treadmill running (StD+running, HCD+running, and HCD/StD+running) for the next 8 weeks. Diet-induced visceral obesity was shown to result in a decrease in the weight of the triceps surae muscle, fatty infiltration, intracellular edema, partial lysis of contractile elements, weak inflammatory response, and decreased muscle fiber area on cross section. Treadmill running (HCD+running) exacerbates the morphological changes, but returns muscle fiber area to normal. Correction of visceral obesity and relative normalization of muscle tissue structure was noted when switching to a standard diet (HCD/StD and HCD/StD+running).

Background. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the studying the consortia of probiotic bacteria. In these associations, the properties of individual microorganisms can be enhanced, in particular, their antagonistic activity which is an effective indicator for screening of probiotic potential. The development of probiotics based on such consortia with antibacterial properties is critical in the light of the growing problem of drug resistance in microorganisms.The aim of the work. To study the antagonistic activity of monocultures and consortia of lactobacilli against multidrug-resistant isolates of opportunistic bacteria. Materials and methods. The antagonistic activity of lactobacilli monocultures and their consortia was assessed simultaneously by two methods: the cross streak method and the well diffusion method.Results. All strains of lactobacilli and their consortia, depending on the research method, had varying degrees of antagonistic activity. Five consortia had stronger antagonism to test cultures as compared to monocultures, while in one consortium, the effect of antagonistic activity was reduced compared to monocultures. The results of studying the antagonistic activity of two consortia (Limosilactobacillus fermentum 44/1 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus 12L, Latilactobacillus curvatus LCR-111-1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 8PAZ) contradict data on the biocompatibility of strains in these consortia. Differences in the degree of antagonistic effects of lactobacilli on gram-positive and gram-negative species of opportunistic bacteria were revealed.Conclusion. The study showed that both the biocompatibility of the probiotic strains and the antagonistic activity of the consortium are the important requirements for creating a probiotic consortium with effective probiotic potential. To study the antagonistic properties of lactobacilli, the number of isolates of target gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and normobiota should be increased. This will allow us to determine effective strategies for using probiotics in conditions of the spread of drug resistance of microorganisms.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the level of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in menopausal women with insomnia. MATERIAL AND METHODS:One hundred and thirty-six menopausal women were examined. After collecting medical history, general clinical examination, examination by a gynecologist and identifying the presence and nature of sleep disorders, the subjects were divided into 4 groups: 1 - control/perimenopause (n=21); 2 - insomnia/perimenopause (n=34); 3 - control/postmenopause (n=31); 4 - insomnia/postmenopause (n=50). The content of AOPP and the level of AGEs were determined using enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS:A high percentage of menopausal women with insomnia have carbonyl stress values above the confidence interval (AGEs - 49.2% of women, AOPP - 55.2%). The insomnia in perimenopause is associated with high levels of AGEs (4533.10 [3834.09; 5098] ng/ml, p=0.039) and AOPP (28.92 [22.27; 40] nmol/L, p=0.002) as compared to controls (3685.87 [3376.11; 4318] ng/ml and 19.8 [16.85; 23.97] nmol/L, respectively). There are no significant differences in the studied parameters in postmenopause with insomnia. CONCLUSION:Insomnia in perimenopause is a provoking factor for the development of free radical pathology and is associated with the formation of carbonyl stress, and in postmenopause it does not make significant changes in metabolic pathways involving carbonyl compounds.