Oxylipins are signal lipid molecules formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in several multienzymatic metabolic pathways, such as cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), epoxygenase (CYP), and anandamide pathways, as well as non-enzymatically. The pathways of PUFA transformation are activated in parallel, yielding a mixture of physiologically active substances. Although the association of oxylipins with carcinogenesis had been established a long time ago, only recently analytical methods have advanced to a degree allowing detection and quantification of oxylipins from different classes (oxylipin profiles). The review describes current approaches to the HPLC-MS/MS analysis of oxylipin profiles and compares oxylipin profiles from patients with oncological diseases (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer). The possibility of using blood oxylipin profiles as biomarkers in oncological diseases is discussed. Understanding the patterns of PUFA metabolism and physiological activity of combinations of oxylipins will improve early diagnostics of oncological diseases and evaluation of disease prognosis.

Over the recent years, many advances have been made in the research of the genetic factors of pregnancy complications. In this work, we use publicly available data repositories, such as the National Human Genome Research Institute GWAS Catalog, HuGE Navigator, and the UK Biobank genetic and phenotypic dataset to gain insights into molecular pathways and individual genes behind a set of pregnancy-related traits, including the most studied ones—preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and placental abruption. Using both HuGE and GWAS Catalog data, we confirm that immune system and, in particular, T-cell related pathways are one of the most important drivers of pregnancy-related traits. Pathway analysis of the data reveals that cell adhesion and matrisome-related genes are also commonly involved in pregnancy pathologies. We also find a large role of metabolic factors that affect not only gestational diabetes, but also the other traits. These shared metabolic genes include IGF2, PPARG, and NOS3. We further discover that the published genetic associations are poorly replicated in the independent UK Biobank cohort. Nevertheless, we find novel genome-wide associations with pregnancy-related traits for the FBLN7, STK32B, and ACTR3B genes, and replicate the effects of the KAZN and TLE1 genes, with the latter being the only gene identified across all data resources. Overall, our analysis highlights central molecular pathways for pregnancy-related traits, and suggests a need to use more accurate and sophisticated association analysis strategies to robustly identify genetic risk factors for pregnancy complications.

The chemical composition of polyphenolic compounds of cranberry fruits (Vaccinium oxycoccus L.), blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.), growing in the Surgut region of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra, was first studied. Fresh berries were extracted five times with an 80% aqueous-alcoholic mixture at room temperature. The obtained extracts were combined, filtered, and the solvent from the filtrate was distilled off under vacuum on a rotary evaporator. The composition of the obtained extracts by HPLC identified 15 glycosides of anthocyanidins, as well as 30 phenolic compounds related to hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, catechins and procyanidins. The phenolic compounds were identified in accordance with the retention times and absorption spectra of the corresponding analytical standards. The main phenolic compound of cranberry berry extract is chlorogenic acid. The increase in the polyphenol content in the series was established: cranberries–lingonberries– blueberries. Our data on the whole in terms of the content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity are comparable with the results of a study of cranberries and blueberries from the Alaska region, not significantly differing in the content of anthocyanins and individual flavones. Significant differences in phenolic components are revealed when comparing our data with data on cranberries and cranberries from the regions of northern and eastern Europe (Poland, Belarus, Norway). The quantitative differences found for individual polyphenols are likely to be related to geographic and local environmental conditions. The high content of polyphenols in the berries we studied suggests the possibility of using them as pharmaceutical raw materials.

The aim of the study is to present the analysis findings of the geroprotective activity potential polyphenols of the Northern berries such as cranberries, lingonberries and blueberries. Materials and methods. The review of the literature in the base PubMed over the past 7 years is made. The used keywords are: anti-aging effect, polyphenols, geroprotectors, cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries, antioxidants, metabolic syndrome and others. Results. The results of several experiments and known limited clinical evidence allow considering that polyphenols of the Northern berries can have antioxidant activity with possible anti-aging effect regarding aging pathology. The study of antiaging effects of the Northern berries in Western Siberia and their polyphenols is important and essential.