Cryostructuring of Polymeric Systems. 57. Spongy Wide-Porous Cryogels Based on the Proteins of Blood Serum: Preparation, Properties and Application as the Carriers of Peptide Bioregulators

Wide-pore proteinaceous freeze–thaw spongy gels were synthesized via the cryotropic gelation technique using the bovine blood serum or its diluted solutions as the protein-containing precursors. The feed systems also included the denaturant (urea) and the thiol-reductant (cysteine). The gel-fraction yield decreased and the swelling degree of the walls of macropores in such heterophase matrices increased with decreasing the initial protein concentration. The optimum freezing temperature was found to be within a rather narrow range from −15 to −20 °C. In this case, the average size of the macropores in the resultant cryogels was 90–110 μm. The suitability of such soft wide-pore gel materials for the application as the carriers of peptide bioregulators was demonstrated in the in vitro experiments, when the posterior segments of the Pleurodeles waltl adult newts’ eyes were used as a model biological target. It was shown that a statistically reliable protective effect on the state of the sclera, vascular membrane and retinal pigment epithelium, as well as on the viability of fibroblasts, was inherent in the proteinaceous cryogels loaded with the peptide bioregulator (Viophtan-5™) isolated from the bovine eye sclera.

NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF PEPTIDES

Нейродегенеративные заболевания представляют собой гетерогенную группу патологии нервной системы и встречаются преимущественно у людей старшей возрастной группы. Частота встречаемости нейродегенеративных заболеваний непрерывно растет в связи с увеличением средней продолжительности жизни населения. В настоящее время лечение нейродегенеративных заболеваний является малоэффективным. Большинство применяемых препаратов действует лишь симптоматически. В обзоре проанализированы данные и приведены сведения о перспективности применения пептидных биорегуляторов в качестве нейропротекторов, обладающих высокой физиологической активностью и низкой иммуногенностью. Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of nervous system pathologies. They are found mainly in people of an older age group. The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is continuously growing due to an increase in the average life expectancy of the population. At the moment, there are no effective and safe treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, which are most often diagnosed at the stage of decompensation, when therapy is ineffective and does not bring positive outcomes. Most of the currently used drugs act only symptomatically. The review provides analyzed data and information about the prospects of using peptide bioregulators as neuroprotectors with high physiological activity and low immunogenicity.

Prediction of early response to liraglutide therapy in patients with obesity

BACKGROUND: The main goal of treating obesity is to reduce the risk of developing its complications and comorbid diseases, which requires a steady decrease in body weight by at least 510%. In Russia in 2016, the list of drugs for the treatment of obesity was supplemented by a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) liraglutide . There is evidence that about one third of patients do not achieve a clinically significant decrease in body weight during treatment with liraglutide, while the factors that predict the so-called early response to treatment are currently unknown. AIM: To identify prognostic factors of an early response to complex therapy of exogenously constitutional obesity, including agonist of GLP-1 receptors liraglutide, and to evaluate the effect of this therapy on the dynamics of levels of endogenous peptide bioregulators of eating behavior (IB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 42 patients with exogenously constitutional obesity, which were divided into 2 groups, comparable by sex, age and body mass index (BMI). The first group (n=22) received treatment recommendations for the correction of nutrition and physical activity, as well as liraglutide 3.0 mg for 3 months. The second group (n=20) received only recommendations for the correction of nutrition and physical activity. At the start and after 3 months, anthropometric characteristics and laboratory parameters were evaluated in all patients, including the levels of endogenous peptide bioregulators of IB (leptin, ghrelin, obestatin and GLP-1), their dynamics was compared between groups. Depending on the therapeutic effect, the 1st group was divided into two subgroups: those who achieved (n = 14) and did not achieve (n = 8) a clinically significant decrease in body weight. In both subgroups, baseline characteristics were analyzed as possible prognostic factors for the effectiveness of complex therapy. RESULTS: To predict an early response to complex therapy, including liraglutide, a mathematical model has been developed that is implemented as a calculator in MS Excel and contains a combination of initial body weight and fasting plasma ghrelin. The dynamics of body weight and BMI in the group of complex therapy was statistically significantly higher than that in the group of isolated lifestyle modifications (ILM). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of individuals with an early response to 3.0 mg liraglutide therapy is comparable to that of data from randomized clinical trials. The mathematical model, which includes a combination of initial body weight and plasma ghrelin, allows predicting the likelihood of a clinically significant decrease in body weight after 3 months of using liraglutide 3.0 mg in combination with ILM with a sensitivity of 86% [65%; 97%] and prognostic value of a positive result of 80% [60%; 95%].

AGE FEATURES OF BIOREGULATORY THERAPY OF DENTAL DISEASES

В статье представлены данные по применению пептидных биорегуляторов клеточного гомеостаза и защитных функций организма при различных стоматологических заболеваниях и патологии органов и тканей челюстно-лицевой области. Рассмотрены вопросы, связанные с иммунофармакологическим действием и эффективностью клинического применения природных и синтетических пептидных тимомиметиков (Тималина, Тимогена, Вилона, Эпиталамина, Кортексина) и пептидных биорегуляторов из хрящевой (Сигумир, Хондролюкс) и других тканей при травме, а также воспалительных, дистрофических, онкологических и других патологических процессах тканей полости рта и челюстнолицевой области. Особое внимание уделено их использованию в комплексном лечении стоматологических заболеваний у лиц пожилого и старческого возраста. The article presents data on the use of peptide bioregulators of cell homeostasis and the protective functions of the body in various dental diseases and pathology of organs and tissues of the maxillofacial region. Issues related to the immunopharmacological effect and clinical use of natural and synthetic peptide thymomimetics (thymalin, thymogen, vilon, epithalamin, cortexin) and peptide bioregulators from cartilaginous (sigumir, chondrolux) and other tissues in case of trauma, as well as infl ammatory, inflammatory and other pathological processes of tissues of the oral cavity and maxillofacial region. Particular attention is paid to their use in the complex treatment of dental diseases in the elderly.

Passport and biological age in the choice of metabolic geroprophylactic therapy

We compared the effectiveness of geroprophylactic means of gas and metabolic therapy (hypoxytherapy, hyperbaric oxygenation, ozone therapy, dry carbonic baths, amino acid arginine, regulatory tripeptides H- Glu-Asp-Arg-OH u H-Lys-Glu-Asp-OH, interleukin-2 in medium therapeutic dosages by their ability to reduce biological age when tested on practically healthy people or patients with mild subclinical forms of polymorbid pathology at the age of 35 – 74 years. It has been established that the effectiveness of agents and effects in terms of the degree of decrease in biological age depends on the type of geroprophylactic agent, as well as in the part of research – the passport age of patients. In this case, the biological age of the subjects after treatment decreased in the range from 12.8 to 1.3 years, depending on the means used and, in some cases, on the passport age. The greatest efficiency was achieved after the use of a combination of peptide bioregulators in the age group with a passport age of 35 – 59 years. When prescribing metabolic geroprophylaxis, it is necessary to take into account, in addition to the indications and contraindications of the means used or the correction method, the state of the body, also the calendar age and the degree of decrease in biological age.

Prospects for using peptide bioregulators for prevention and treatment of age-associated diseases of the musculoskeletal system (review of experimental data)

Увеличение продолжительности жизни человека, наблюдаемое во всем мире, требует особого внимания к возрастным изменениям, которые влияют на качество жизни. Остеоартроз и остеопороз входят в список основных заболеваний, которые приводят к ухудшению здоровья, изменению образа жизни и в конечном итоге, к инвалидности. Несмотря на то, что современные методы, применяемые для лечения как остеоартроза, так и остеопороза достаточно широки, разработка новых препаратов для лечения этих заболеваний является весьма актуальной. Среди таких препаратов особое внимание привлекают пептидные биорегуляторы, которые обладают геропротекторным эффектом, а также оказывают профилактическое действие при различных патологических состояниях организма. Одним из таких средств является пептидный препарат Хондролюкс®, который может быть рекомендован для профилактики заболеваний, связанных с изменениями хрящевой и костной тканей. Musculoskeletal diseases are most common in the elderly. The associated physical pain and limited ability to move impair quality of life and lead to disability in older patients. Among musculoskeletal diseases, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are the most common. Osteoarthritis is a disease associated with age-related changes in the cartilage tissue. Osteoporosis, primarily postmenopausal, is characterized by decreased bone density. The similarity of these diseases is due to the fact that they both develop over a long time and are characteristic of older people. With age, both bone and cartilage tissues tend to lose their structure due to deterioration of metabolic processes. Therefore, it is important to maintain the musculoskeletal system as long as possible and focus on prevention of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Treatment of such diseases is associated with substantial economic costs; therefore, development of new, efficient and safe methods, which would qualitatively change the structural and functional state of bone and cartilage tissues, is highly relevant. Experimental studies showed that a new peptide drug, Chondrolux®, can be recommended for prevention and treatment of diseases associated with degenerative and dystrophic changes in the cartilage and bone tissues.