The review summarizes the recent data on the toxic effect that engineered metal nanoparticles (NPs) and their oxides (Ag, Au, Cu, CuO, zero-valent iron, TiO2, and ZnO) exert on marine organisms of various taxonomic groups. Toxicity is considered with due regard of the size effects and physicochemical properties of NPs. Available data indicate that metallic NPs may adversely affect algae, bacteria, mollusks, worms, arthropods, echinoderms, chordates, etc. Toxic effects vary from reproductive disorders to death. Only scarce data are available on the NP effect on marine vertebrates (e.g., marine fish). The factors that affect the NP toxicity in an aqueous environment include the physicochemical properties of NPs, species specificities of the test organism, and parameters of the aqueous environment (in particular, salinity, temperature and pH). Exact relationships between the factors and NP toxicity are still poorly understood. In particular, there is no consensus on how salinity affects the NP toxicity in an aqueous environment. Putative mechanisms of NP toxicity include oxidative stress, impaired cell membrane integrity, inflammatory processes with consequent cell dysfunction, DNA damage, and genetic mutations. NPs easily persist within organisms and consequently have a high potential to accumulate in marine food chains. Lack of standardized techniques to detect metallic and metal oxide NPs and weak or absent relevant legislation complicate toxicology studies in marine ecosystems. The above circumstances make it necessary to further evaluate the safety of metallic NPs for marine organisms and especially vertebrates, to study the distant effects associated with NP transition and accumulation in marine food chains, and to unify the respective research protocols. The exact role of environmental factors in modulating NP toxicity and the mechanisms of NP toxicity are also important issues to address in future studies.

Мета дослідження – вивчити вплив хірургічної стимуляції овуляції шляхом фертилоскопічного оваріального дрилінгу на гормональний статус пацієнток із кломіфен-резистентною формою синдрому полікістозних яєчників (СПКЯ) та ожирінням. Матеріали та методи. Під спостереженням перебувала 61 жінка репродуктивного віку. В основну групу ввійшла 31 жінка із кломіфен-резистентним СПКЯ і з індексом маси тіла >30 кг/м2, яким хірургічну стимуляцію овуляції виконано з використанням ТВГЛ у Київському міському центрі репродуктивної та перинатальної медицини за період 2017–2019 рр. У контрольну групу увійшли 30 умовно соматично і гінекологічно здорових жінок. Пацієнтки пройшли комплексне обстеження. Концентрації гонадотропінів, статевих стероїдів та антимюллерового гормону в сироватці периферичної крові досліджували імунохімічним методом на 2–3-й день менструального циклу перед операцією, через 1, 3 і 6 місяців після операції. Результати дослідження та їх обговорення. Після проведення хірургічної стимуляції відмічали поліпшення гормонального профілю сироватки периферичної крові зі зниженням лютеїнізуючого гормону, статевих стероїдів та підвищенням фолікулостимулюючого гормону, але через 3 місяці спостерігали тенденцію до поступового повернення вмісту гонадотропінів та статевих стероїдів до вихідного передопераційного рівня. Через 6 місяців після хірургічної стимуляції овуляції найбільш стійкими залишалися зниження порівняно з контрольними значеннями сироваткової концентрації антимюллерового гормону в 1,24 (р<0,01), вільного тестостерону – в 1,61 (р<0,01) і дегідроепіандростерону – в 1,69 раза (р<0,01). Поліпшення гормонального статусу безпосередньо після хірургічної стимуляції овуляції привело до настання у прооперованих пацієнток вагітності впродовж 3 місяців у 26,81 % випадків, впродовж 6 місяців – у 35,48 %. Висновок. Отримані дані вказують на те, що перші 6 місяців після хірургічної стимуляції овуляції є найбільш перспективними для планування і настання вагітності у кломіфен-резистентних пацієнток із СПКЯ і ожирінням.

Among the multiple anthropogenic factors, air pollution is associated with the influence of pedosphere and its components on humans and environment.The disturbance of natural balance is facilitated by large-scale development of mineral deposits and associated environmental pollution by harmful components.The increasing anthropogenic impact require scientific and technical examination, introduction of air pollution monitoring systems, amendments to state regulatory acts, and practical solutions to the problems of mineral resources management.This study deals with the ecotoxicological assessment of the influence of coal dust microparticles on a typical representative of marine biota, namely mollusk Modi olus modiolus.We did not detect acute toxicological hazard of coal dust particles to the repre sentatives of marine biota, however, the observed changes in the state of hemocytes of mollusk M. modiolus suggest that there is a chronic exposure.

Silica biominerals are deposited as amorphous solid structures in plant cells and tissues, providing rigidity to different plant parts and assisting in defence. The shape and size of phytoliths are well established and serve as a useful tool in taxonomic analyses. For the first time we extracted and studied silica biominerals of five marine macroalgae, which we observed by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). More than nine different morphotypes of phytoliths ranging from ≥ 10 to ≥ 350 μm in size were found. Some of them were phytoliths made of silica while others showed characteristics of different minerals of calcium. In our study, the “honeycomb” formations were only recorded in Laurencia tropica Yamada and pyramid tabular ones were found only in Tichocarpus crinitus (S.G. Gmelin) Ruprecht. The XRD analysis showed that they consisted of virgilite and gypsum substance, respectively. Silica phytoliths are intrinsic parts of the algae and their morphological characterization can provide the basis for palaeo-reconstruction and taxonomic investigation of brown and red algae in palaeontological studies of fossils where all organic matter has decayed.

ОПЫТ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ГРАНУЛОМЕТРИЧЕСКОГО СОСТАВА АТМОСФЕРНЫХ ВЫПАДЕНИЙ НЕКОТОРЫХ НАСЕЛЕННЫХ ПУНКТОВ РЕСПУБЛИКИ САХА (ЯКУТИЯ) В. А. Дрозд Дальневосточный федеральный университет (Владивосток, Российская Федерация) С. В. Панченко Институт проблем безопасного развития атомной энергетики РАН (Москва

The process of biomineralization in fungi is discussed for the first time.The results of a comprehensive study of fungal phytoliths (mycoliths) using optical micro scopy and RAMAN spectroscopy are presented.The RAMAN spectrum con tains bands of crystalline silicon dioxide and amorphous silica.In all types of fungi and trees examined, two morphotypes of phytolite particles were identified with an aid of microsco pe, oblong and spherical.The rest of the particles were considered formless.To explain the mechanisms of biosilification, a bioinomatic analysis of biosilicon proteins homologues (silicateins, silacidins, silaffins, silicon transporters, silicase) in annotated fungal proteomes was carried out by in silico technique.The paper shows proteins of fungi, which can potentially participate in the formation of mycoliths.K e y w o r d s : fungi, mycolith, phytolith, biomineralization proteins Р Е З Ю М Е Голохваст К.С., Середкин И.В., Булах Е.М., Чайка В.В., Захаренко А.М., Холодов А.С., Памирский И.Е., Чунг Ж. Морфотипы миколитов (грибных фитолитов) и биосилификация белков в грибах, разрушающих древесину.Впервые комплексно обсуждается процесс био минерализации у грибов.При водятся результаты комплексного изучения фитолитов грибов (мико ли тов) методами оптической микроскопии и RAMAN-спектроскопии. RAMAN-спектр содержит полосы кристалличе ского диоксида кремния и аморф ного кремнезема.Во всех видах исследо ванных грибов и деревьев мик ро скопически установлены два морфотипа частиц фитолитов: продолговатые и

The effect of carbon and silicon nanotubes (CNTs and SiNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) to microscopic marine algae Heterosigma akashiwo was studied, using algal growth inhibition for 3 days (acute effect) and 7 days (chronic effect) as toxicity endpoints. The criterion of the toxic effect was the statistically significant reduction of the number of algal cells in the exposed samples compared to the control. Samples did not demonstrate toxic effects at doses 1 mg/l and 10 mg/l. CNTs and SiNTs samples at 100 mg/l exhibited both acute and chronic toxic effects. We assume that the main cause of cell death in these samples was related to the mechanical damage of cell integrity. CNFs at concentrations of 100 mg/l did not inhibit algal growth, but cells with irregular shapes were observed, which were not observed after exposure to CNTs and SiNTs. Nickel impurities present in CNFs samples are presumably the main cause of observed cell deformations.

The world biodiesel production is increasing at a rapid rate. Despite its perceived safety for the environment, more detailed toxicity studies are mandatory, especially in the field of aquatic toxicology. While considerable attention has been paid to biodiesel combustion emissions, the toxicity of biodiesel in the aquatic environment has been poorly understood. In our study, we used an algae culture growth-inhibition test (OECD 201) for the comparison of the toxicity of B100 (pure biodiesel), produced by methanol transesterification of waste cooking oil (yellow grease), B0 (petroleum diesel fuel) and B20 (diesel-biodiesel blended of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel by volume). Two marine diatoms Attheya ussuriensis and Chaetoceros muelleri, the red algae Porphyridium purpreum and Raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo were employed as the aquatic test organisms. A sample of biodiesel from waste cooking oil without dilution with petroleum diesel (B100) showed the highest level of toxicity for the microalgae A. ussuriensis, C. muelleri and H. akashiwo, compared to hexane, methanol, petroleum diesel (B0) and diluted sample (B20). The acute EC50 in the growth-inhibition test (96 h exposure) of B100 for the four species was in the range of 03.75-23.95 g/L whereas the chronic toxicity EC50 (7d exposure) was in the range of 0.42-16.09 g/L.

The paper presents the first results of the research of the morphological and material composition of the particles in welding aerosol. It is shown that in terms of morphology the particles are hollow and solid balls, sometimes covered with easily chipped off shell. There are also objects of other forms– ovals, polygons and needles. Fragments of the shell of hollow spheres have the size of up to 10μm (PM10) and jagged edges, making them and nano-sized particles the most potentially dangerous to human health components of welding aerosol. It is found that the aerosol particles are mainly composed of Fe> Mn> Zn> Ti, but there are minor components of Si, Cl, Zr, Co, Cr, Br, Al, Ca, Mg, K, C, S.

The first results of the research of the distribution of welding aerosol nano- and microparticles in the working area based on substance and morphological analysis are presented in the paper. A 3D-model of the welding aerosol cloud demonstrating the distribution of nano- and microparticles in the working area of the welder was created using the granulometric data of the samples. The most dangerous area with maximum density of nano- and microparticles of welding fumes was singled out: 1.3 m in height and 5 meters in all directions.Welding aerosol is a disperse system in which the solid component of the welding aerosol (SCWA) acts as the phase, and the mixture of gases (gaseous component of welding aerosol, or GCWA) – as the medium. SCWA stays suspended in the air for a long time spreading far beyond the working area of a welder [1].The aim of this work was to create a 3D-model of a welding aerosol cloud, demonstrating the spread of nano- and microparticles of welding aerosol in the working area of a welder. The 3D model was created using granulometric data of samples collected by the author’s method.

The impact of two types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (12-14 nm) with different content of metallic impurities (purified and unpurified nanotubes) on peroxidation processes, the status of immune cells in healthy volunteers and gene expression combined to pathway analysis was studied in vitro. From the study it was shown that the main mechanism of action for both types of MWCNTs is induction of oxidative stress, the intensity of which is directly related to the amount of metallic impurities. Unpurified MWCNTs produced twice as high levels of oxidation than the purified CNTs inducing thus more intense mitochondrial dysfunction. All the above were also verified by gene expression analysis of 2 different human cellular cultures (lung epithelium and keratinoma cells) and the respective pathway analysis; modulation of genes activating the NFkB pathway is associated to inflammatory responses. This may cause a perturbation in the IL-6 signaling pathway in order to regulate inflammatory processes and compensate for apoptotic changes. A plausible hypothesis for the immunological effects observed in vivo, are considered as the result of the synergistic effect of systemic (mediated by cells of the routes of exposure) and local inflammation (blood cells). (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The paper presents the results of the histochemical study of the polyp tissue morphofunctional state associated with the laser interstitial (1 to 10 W) thermotherapy. It suggested the laser induces apoptosis of the polyp tissue cells via mitochondrial pathway, which is supported by the positive staining for caspase 3 and is dose-dependent. The study demonstrates that the inhibition of apoptosis by Bcl-xL occurs at the low laser intensity (1-5 W) and further (5-10 W) the process becomes unidirectional.

The results of the first study on the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the exploratory activity and the emotional state in laboratory rats assessed by the open field test are reported. During three or ten days, rats received 8–10 nm MWNTs added to their food at a dose of 500 mg/kg. It was demonstrated that, in the group of rats which were fed with MWNTs, the integrated anxiety level index began to increase as early as the third day of the experiment; on the tenth day, it appeared to be twice increased. It was also demonstrated that MWNTs decreased the integrated exploratory activity index nearly twofold on the third day and nearly fourfold on the tenth day.