For successful exploration of near space, construction of planetary bases and exploration of the planets of the solar system, it is necessary to fill the gaps in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the human body’s response to space flight (SF) conditions. Subsequently, this will make it possible to get closer to the discovery of potential molecular targets for protection against adverse processes occurring in the body under the influence of SF conditions. The goal of the work was to assess the effect of a 6-month space flight on the proteome of dried blood spots of cosmonauts. As a result of proteomic analysis, processes with highly and moderately enriched genes were identified. Among them, processes with reliable dynamics were identified on the 7th day of SF, as well as on the 3rd and 6th months of flight: these are clusters of energy processes, presentation of molecules on the membrane, initiation of immune defense, proteostasis, and metabolism. Biological processes were identified in which the representation of proteins decreased most significantly, which was reflected in a weakening of activity in the presentation of molecules on the membrane, the initiation of immune defense, as well as in the mechanisms of proteostasis in the acute period of adaptation to the factors of the initial stage of flight. It has been shown that there is a close interaction with proteins of the cytoskeleton organization of proteins that disappear or reappear in the dried blood spots of proteome during flight, and they relate to processes whose activity significantly decreased during SF (immune system, proteostasis, metabolism).

Year-long life on Antarctic scientific station Vostok was characterized by exposure to the physiologically important factors including hypobaric hypoxia (Р = 460 mm Hg) due to the location on the Central Ice Sheet, hypokinesia due to staying indoor most of the time because of very low temperatures outdoors, physical and social isolation from the world. The paper attempts to define which of these factors determined the human body stress-reaction and energy metabolism. Venous plasma samples were periodically gathered for analysis from 16 members of the 13th Soviet Antarctic expedition to the station Vostok in 1968. Members of the expedition were divided into 2 groups. One group was experimental, i.e. intermittently consumed anti-asthenia amino acid and vitamin supplements and psychoactive drugs, and the other was the placebo control. The investigation showed that in the course of the year-long existence in the extreme environment the averaged levels of 11-oxicorticosteroids and adrenergic compounds were elevated while the noradrenergic levels were at the bottom margins of their normal ranges. Averaged values of blood glucose and total cholesterol were well within the range of normal variations. Anti-asthenia supplements mitigated the chronic stress and did not disturb energy metabolism.

Objective : to assess the structural and functional state of skeletal muscles in the hip, as well as changes in the content of the sarcomere cytoskeleton proteins titin and nebulin and their phosphorylation level in patients with chronic alcohol intoxication. Patients and methods . Thirteen patients (4 men and 9 women; mean age, 38.9±9.9 years) with chronic alcohol intoxication were examined. The average duration of regular consumption of alcoholic beverages was 7.6±3.7 years. The mean amount of alcohol consumed per week was 48.2±13.1 units. A control group included 10 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex. A neurological examination was performed according to the generally accepted scheme. Laboratory tests involved blood biochemical analysis estimating the levels of liver enzymes, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). All the patients underwent hip magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), followed by assessment of the degree of muscle tissue damage and by determination of the volume of anterior and posterior thigh muscles. The content of titin and nebulin and their phosphorylation level were determined in the muscle tissue samples obtained by an open biopsy from the lateral head of the quadriceps femoris muscle. Results and discussion . Four (30.8%) patients were found to have proximal leg muscle weakness; the degree of paresis was the same in the anterior and posterior thigh muscles. There was a significant increase in the plasma level of liver enzymes; the CPK level remained within the reference values; there was a tendency towards lower IGF-1 levels. Analysis of MRI data showed that 7 (53.8%) patients had fatty degeneration in the thigh muscles. Quantitative evaluation ascertained a significant symmetrical decrease in the volume of anterior thigh muscles and a tendency towards a symmetrical reduction in that in the posterior thigh muscle compared to the control. Analysis of the content of titin and nebulin in the lateral head of the quadriceps femoris muscle revealed a significant decrease in the percentage of nebulin (81.1%; p u003c 0.01) and intact titin-1 (T1) isoforms (83.6%; p u003c 0.01). The percentage of proteolytic titin-2 (T2) fragments in the muscle of patients did not differ significantly from that in the control group. Estimating the phosphorylation level of the structural muscle proteins showed no significant differences when compared to the control. Conclusion . Anterior and posterior thigh muscle weakness should be considered as the main clinical manifestation of chronic alcoholic myopathy (CAM) in the absence of biochemical and neurophysiological markers of the disease. Lower extremity muscle MRI that can reveal a lower muscle volume concurrent with fatty degeneration is a non-invasive informative diagnostic technique for CAM. The pathogenesis of skeletal muscle atrophy in chronic alcohol intoxication involves the sarcomere structural proteins titin and nebulin, which regulate the interaction of the major contractile proteins actin and myosin, and whole muscle contraction.

This is the first study to observe a 25% atrophy of m. vastus lateralis and a decrease in the size of type I and II muscle fibers (by 35 and 44%, respectively) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women after five to seven years of alcohol intoxication. The decrease in muscle volume is due to the predominant destruction of contractile apparatus as compared with other components.

In our study urine protein composition of 18 healthy volunteers was compared with that of 18 patients with ischemic heart disease and concomitant hypertension. Liquid chromatography-mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of the second fraction of morning urine was carried out using nano-line high performance liquid chromatograph and hybrid mass spectrometer. The analysis revealed 23 proteins expressed in the endothelium, according to the information contained in the database Bgee, and 49 proteins, with direct functional link with the processes in the endothelium in the reconstruction of associative networks using ANDSystem program. Comparison of urine proteome of healthy people and patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis revealed proteins specific for patients with cardiovascular disease. Thus, proteins vitronectin, syndecan-4, a histidine rich glycoprotein, endothelial protein C receptor, colony stimulating factor, cathepsin D and sekretogranin-1 may be considered as potential markers for cardiovascular diseases. Further research in this area should be conducted for clinical and experimental verification of these hypotheses.

Model experiments using monkeys (rhesus macaque monkeys) were performed to investigate the neurobiological effects of two components of galactic cosmic radiation, namely, high-energy protons and carbon (12C) ions. It has been demonstrated that the irradiation of a monkey’s head with protons at a dose of 3 Gy did not cause any significant changes in the animal’s cognitive function and in the concentrations of monoamines and their metabolites in the peripheral blood. However, exposure to carbon ions at a dose of 1 Gy resulted in a significant cognitive function impairment and a significant decrease in serotonin metabolite concentrations in the blood in the monkeys with the excitable imbalanced type of higher nervous activity.

The article tells about a clinical case of subacute flaccid tetraparesis with peripheral polyneuropathy against a background of dipsomania in a patient who abused alcohol. The pathogenetic mechanisms of subacute development of neuromuscular disorders, differential diagnosis and the treatment approach for patients with alcoholic polyneuropathy and myopathy are discussed.

Previously it has been shown that argon has a stimulating effect on biological processes including, specifically, strong protective properties during exposure to acute (1-4 hrs.) hypoxic hypoxia. Experiments with animals under hypoxia gradually growing over 3 to 7 days may give insight into mechanisms of the argon protective action. Purpose of the work was to explore character and severity of developing disorders, to attempt their prognosis and to test potentiality of argon as a protector from the effects of subacute hypoxic exposure. In two series of experiments Wistar male rats were housed in pressure chambers with different rates of O2 reduction without argon and with argon in concentration of 32-38%. Oxygen reduction from 20.9 to 9.0% in 3 days led to the death of 50% animals. Oxygen reduction to 12.0% in 7 days and one day in low-oxygen atmosphere was harmless for animals. Argon in air makes the response to hypoxia almost twice as sharp on virtually every level (red blood system, physiological, morphological and biochemical shifts) validating the concept that argon acts as a stimulator. In context of the most critical processes of adaptation to hypoxia--activation of blood formation and lipid metabolism--this sharpening of the response results in depletion of body resources and instigates irreversible shifts.

This article analyzes the physiological data using the principle of invariant relationships, to reveal the mechanisms of adaptive variability. It was used physical-chemical, biochemical, and hormonal blood parameters of cosmonauts who have committed short-term and long space flights. These results suggest that application of the methods of fractal geometry to quantitative estimates of homeostasis allows to allocate the processes depending on the increase/decrease of adaptive variability and fix the state of stability or instability of certain physiological regulatory subsystems, due to mobility and to reduce the level of stability which remains stable internal structure of relationships throughout the body.