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A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 19999

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Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Fucic

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Guest Editor

Institut za Medicinska Istrazivanja i Medicinu Rada, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: biomonitoring; carcinogenesis; occupational health; environmental health; endocrine disruptor; development

Dr. Vladimir Druzhinin

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Guest Editor

Department of Genetics, Kemerovo State University, 6 Kemerovo, Russia
Interests: mutagenesis; radiation; chemical; chromosomal aberrations; micronuclei; comet assay; genotoxic effects; occupational hazard; molecular polymorphism; metabolism of xenobiotics; repair; apoptosis; sensitivity to mutagens; human microbiome; next generation sequencing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Russian science is unique due to the fact that its scientists are often educated differently and, therefore, their approach has always been holistic and complex. This is why certain significant tools in life science, such as systems biology, were introduced and applied very early on in the Russian Federation.

Close collaboration with Dr. Vladimir Druzhinin encouraged the idea for this Special Issue and we have faith that our successful cooperation will provide a platform for similar successes for other future teams.

The main historical problem of the language barrier has practically vanished. While knowledge of the Russian language presents an advantage, as it offers one the opportunity to read the online papers and books available in Russian, the English language is still popular in most of the world; thus, English has also become the language of science in the Russian Federation.

This Special Issue offers a broad array of topics in order to provide as wide as possible an overview of current studies in the field of biomedicine. Thus, a wide range of topics are welcome, including the biomonitoring of populations occupationally or environmentally exposed to ionizing radiation, as well as other environmental factors; cancer etiology; combined data from clinics and basic sciences in biomedicine; systems biology; the application of artificial intelligence in the investigation of physiological and pathological pathways, and in biomedicine at large; intrauterine development; transplacental exposures; and the microbiome.

We are honored to invite colleagues from the Russian Federation to contribute to this strong Special Issue of Life, which will be of great interest for scientists of many different disciplines.

Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Fucic

Dr. Vladimir Druzhinin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biomonitoring
ionizing radiation
cancer
development
systems biology
occupational exposure
biomedicine
basic science/clinics

Published Papers (9 papers)

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10 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Cytogenetic Effects in Patients after Computed Tomography Examination

by Elizaveta Neronova and Sergei Aleksanin

Life 2022, 12(12), 1983; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12121983 - 27 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1476

Abstract

Millions of people around the world are exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation from diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scans. Currently available data on the potential cancer risk after CT scans are contradictory and therefore demand further investigations. The aim of the current study was to obtain estimations of genome damage after CT scans in 42 non-cancer patients and to conduct a comparison of the results with 22 control subjects. The frequency of dicentric ring chromosomes and chromosome breaks was significantly increased in irradiated patients compared to the controls. The distribution of dicentrics among the cells demonstrated non-Poisson distribution that reflected non-uniform and partial-body radiation exposure. A fraction of patients followed Poisson distribution, which is typical for uniform whole-body exposures. Some patients demonstrated a level of dicentrics similar to the control subjects. The individual variations in the frequency and dicentric distribution suggested complex mechanisms of chromosome aberration induction and elimination that could be associated with individual radiosensitivity, as well as previous diagnostics that used ionizing radiation or the redistribution of small fractions of irradiated lymphocytes within the circulatory pull. In conclusion, CT scans may cause genome damage and possible increases in cancer risk. The introduction of a specific follow-up of such patients, especially in the case of repeated CT scans, is suggested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

8 pages, 1436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in the Sensitivity of the Baroreflex of Heart Rate Regulation to Local Geomagnetic Field Variations in Normotensive and Hypertensive Humans

by Liliya Poskotinova, Elena Krivonogova, Denis Demin and Tatyana Zenchenko

Life 2022, 12(7), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12071102 - 21 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1232

Abstract

Synchronization between heart rate variability (HRV) in the low-frequency (LF) range (0.04–0.15 Hz) and 1-min variations in the components (X, Y, Z)and the total vector (F) of geomagnetic induction (nT) was studied in normotensive (blood pressure up to 140/90 mmHg) and hypertensive (blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg) individuals living in the Arkhangelsk region (60°51′52″ N 39°31′05″ E).The duration of registration of HRV for each person is 30 min in a sitting position. The most pronounced synchronization of the LF parameter, which reflects baroreflex activity, with variations in the GMF was found in normotensive individuals. The absence of a significant synchronization of the LF parameter with variations in the GMF components indicates a decrease in the sensitivity of the baroreflex mechanism and a risk of dysregulation of vascular tone, especially in people with arterial hypertension, under conditions of instability of the geomagnetic field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

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14 pages, 1203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sputum Microbiota in Coal Workers Diagnosed with Pneumoconiosis as Revealed by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

by Vladimir G. Druzhinin, Elizaveta D. Baranova, Ludmila V. Matskova, Pavel S. Demenkov, Valentin P. Volobaev, Varvara I. Minina, Alexey V. Larionov and Snezana A. Paradnikova

Life 2022, 12(6), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060830 - 02 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1914

Abstract

Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (CWP) is an occupationally induced progressive fibrotic lung disease. This irreversible but preventable disease currently affects millions across the world, mainly in countries with developed coal mining industries. Here, we report a pilot study that explores the sputum microbiome as a potential non-invasive bacterial biomarker of CWP status. Sputum samples were collected from 35 former and active coal miners diagnosed with CWP and 35 healthy controls. Sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes was used to study the taxonomic composition of the respiratory microbiome. There was no difference in alpha diversity between CWP and controls. The structure of bacterial communities in sputum samples (β diversity) differed significantly between cases and controls (pseudo-F = 3.61; p = 0.004). A significant increase in the abundance of Streptococcus (25.12 ± 11.37 vs. 16.85 ± 11.35%; p = 0.0003) was detected in samples from CWP subjects as compared to controls. The increased representation of Streptococcus in sputum from CWP patients was associated only with the presence of occupational pulmonary fibrosis, but did not depend on age, and did not differ between former and current miners. The study shows, for the first time, that the sputum microbiota of CWP subjects differs from that of controls. The results of our present exploratory study warrant further investigations on a larger cohort. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

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12 pages, 1236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adenoid Hypertrophy Risk in Children Carriers of G-1082A Polymorphism of IL-10 Infected with Human Herpes Virus (HHV6, EBV, CMV)

by Iuliia Lomaeva, Anna Aghajanyan, Liudmila Dzhaparidze, Olga Borisovna Gigani, Leila V. Tskhovrebova, Olga Olegovna Gigani and Valentin I. Popadyuk

Life 2022, 12(2), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020266 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4042

Abstract

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is considered one of the most common diseases in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) practice. The cause of adenoid hypertrophy in children is still unknown. The main aim of the current study was to investigate IL-10 (interleukin 10) gene polymorphisms and human herpesviruses 6 (HHV6), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infections in children with AH. A total of 106 children with adenoid hypertrophy and 38 healthy children aged 2–11 years were included in this study. All children with adenoid hypertrophy were divided into three subgroups depending on the adenoid size. The viruses were determined via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using commercially available kits (QIAGEN, Germany). HHV6 was more frequently detected in patients with AH compared with CMV and EBV. Among the three subgroups of children with AH, HH6 and EBV were prevalent in the children with the largest adenoid size. The frequency of genotype GG tended to be higher in the control group of children. We found significantly higher frequencies of the G allele and GG and GA genotypes for IL-10 rs1800896 in the subgroup of children with the smallest size of adenoid compared with other subgroups. In conclusion, HHV6 and EBV infection could contribute to the adenoid size. The genotype GG for IL-10 rs1800896 could contribute to the resistance to adenoid hypertrophy and the spread of the adenoid tissue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

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13 pages, 2465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polymorphisms in DNA Repair and Xenobiotic Biotransformation Enzyme Genes and Lung Cancer Risk in Coal Mine Workers

by Varvara Minina, Anna Timofeeva, Anastasya Torgunakova, Olga Soboleva, Marina Bakanova, Yana Savchenko, Elena Voronina, Andrey Glushkov, Alexander Prosekov and Aleksandra Fucic

Life 2022, 12(2), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020255 - 09 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1668

Abstract

Background: Currently coal mining employs over 7 million miners globally. This occupational setting is associated with exposure to dust particles, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and radioactive radon, significantly increasing the risk of lung cancer (LC). The susceptibility for LC is modified by genetic variations in xenobiotic detoxification and DNA repair capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between GSTM1 (deletion), APEX1 (rs1130409), XPD (rs13181) and NBS1 (rs1805794) gene polymorphisms and LC risk in patients who worked in coal mines. Methods: The study included 639 residents of the coal region of Western Siberia (Kemerovo region, Russia): 395 underground miners and 244 healthy men who do not work in industrial enterprises. Genotyping was performed using real-time and allele-specific PCR. Results: The results show that polymorphisms of APEX1 (recessive model: OR_adj = 1.87; CI 95%: 1.01–3.48) and XPD (log additive model: OR_adj = 2.25; CI 95%: 1.59–3.19) genes were associated with increased LC risk. GSTM1 large deletion l was linked with decreased risk of LC formation (OR_adj = 0.59, CI 95%: 0.36–0.98). The multifactor dimensionality reduction method for 3-loci model of gene–gene interactions showed that the GSTM1 (large deletion)—APEX1 (rs1130409)—XPD (rs13181) model was related with a risk of LC development. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight an association between gene polymorphism combinations and LC risks in coal mine workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

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10 pages, 237 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of the DNA Methyltransferase and Folate Cycle Enzymes’ Gene Polymorphisms with Coronary Restenosis

by Kalima B. Timizheva, Abdulbary A. M. Ahmed, Amira Ait Aissa, Anna V. Aghajanyan, Leyla V. Tskhovrebova and Madina M. Azova

Life 2022, 12(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020245 - 07 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1445

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the interest in genetic predisposition studies for coronary artery disease and restenosis has increased. Studies show that polymorphisms of genes encoding folate cycle and homocysteine metabolism enzymes significantly contribute to atherogenesis and endothelial dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to examine some SNPs of genes coding for folate cycle enzymes and DNA methyltransferases as risk factors for in-stent restenosis. Methods: The study included 113 patients after stent implantation and 62 patients without signs of coronary artery disease at coronary angiography as the control group. Real-time PCR and RFLP-PCR were applied to genotype all participants for MTHFR rs1801133, MTHFR rs1801131, MTR rs1805087, MTRR rs1801394, DNMT1 rs8101626, DNMT3B rs1569686, and DNMT3B rs2424913 gene polymorphisms. Statistical data processing was carried out using the R language and the SPSS Statistics 20 software. Results: Statistically significant differences in the DNMT3B gene polymorphisms were found between patients with and without in-stent restenosis. An association of TT rs1569686 and TT rs2424913 genotypes with the development of restenosis was revealed. The TT rs1569686 genotype was more frequent in the patients under the age of 65 years and in the subgroup of patients with post-12-month restenosis, as was the minor GG genotype for MTR rs1805087. The homozygous TT genotype for MTHFR rs1801133 was significantly more frequent in the subgroup over 65 years old. The frequencies of the heterozygous genotype for the MTRR gene and the minor GG homozygotes for the DNMT1 gene were significantly higher in the subgroup with in-stent restenosis under 65 years old. Conclusions: The results of this study could be used for a comprehensive risk assessment of ISR development, determining the optimal tactics and an individual approach in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease before or after percutaneous coronary interventions, including homocysteine-lowering treatment in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia and a high risk of in-stent restenosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

14 pages, 898 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dual Effect of Low-Molecular-Weight Bioregulators of Bacterial Origin in Experimental Model of Asthma

by Svetlana V. Guryanova, Olga B. Gigani, Georgii O. Gudima, Anastasiya M. Kataeva and Natalya V. Kolesnikova

Life 2022, 12(2), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020192 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2892

Abstract

Asthma is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases, affecting over 200 million people. A large number of drugs control asthma attacks, but there is no effective therapy. Identification of reasons for asthma and preventing this disease is a relevant task. The influence of bacterial components is necessary for the normal development of the immune system and the formation of an adequate immune response to antigens. In the absence of microorganisms or their insufficient exposure, the prerequisites are formed for excessive reactivity to harmless antigens. In the present study, we analyzed cellular and humoral factors in a standard mouse model of OVA-induced asthma modified by 5-fold intraperitoneal injection of bacterial cell wall fragments of glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide (GMDP) 5 μg/animal or 1 μg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) per animal for 5 days before sensitization by ovalbumin (OVA). Preliminary administration of LPS or GMDP to animals significantly reduced goblet cells as well as the number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage, wherein GMDP corrected neutrophilia to a 2-fold degree, and LPS reduced the severity of eosinophilia by 1.9 times. With OVA administration of GMDP or LPS at the sensitization stage, an increase in the total number of bronchoalveolar lavage cells due to neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in relation to the group with asthma without GMDP or LPS was observed. The administration of GMDP or LPS to normal mice without asthma for 5 days had no statistically significant effect on the change in the number and population composition of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage in comparison with the control group receiving PBS. As a result of a study in a mouse model of asthma, a dual effect of LPS and GMDP was established: the introduction of LPS or GMDP before sensitization reduces neutrophilia and eosinophilia, while the introduction of LPS or GMDP together with an allergen significantly increases neutrophilia and eosinophilia. The study of the immunoglobulin status shows that in normal-asthma mice, GMDP and LPS slightly increase IgA in bronchoalveolar lavage; at the same time, in the asthma model, injections of GMDP or LPS before sensitization contribute to a significant decrease in IgA (2.6 times and 2.1 times, respectively) in BALF and IgE (2.2 times and 2.0 times, respectively) in blood serum. In an experimental model of asthma, the effect of GMDP and LPS was multidirectional: when they are repeatedly administered before sensitization, the bacterial components significantly reduce the severity of the allergic process, while in the case of a joint injection with an allergen, they increase the influx of macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils into the lungs, which can aggravate the course of pathological process. Thus, the insufficient effect of antigens of a bacterial nature, in particular, with prolonged use of antibiotics can be compensated for by substances based on low-molecular-weight bioregulators of bacterial origin to establish the missing signals for innate immunity receptors, whose constant activation at a certain level is necessary to maintain homeostasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

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15 pages, 982 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ovarian Malignancies Frequency in the Female Population from the Bryansk Region Living in Conditions of Radioactive, Chemical and Combine Contamination (2000–2020)

by Anton V. Korsakov, Alexandra A. Golovleva, Vladislav P. Troshin, Dmitry G. Lagerev and Leonid I. Pugach

Life 2021, 11(11), 1272; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111272 - 21 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1458

Abstract

Background: Radioactive contamination and chemical pollution of the environment can affect the processes of carcinogenesis, including the formation of malignant neoplasms of the ovaries in women. We used the data of official state statistics for 2000–2020 to test the hypothesis about the effect of radioactive contamination (following the Chernobyl disaster) and chemical pollutants on the incidence of ovarian malignancies in the female population of the Bryansk region. Methods: A variety of statistical approaches were used to estimate the incidence of ovarian malignancies, including the Shapiro–Wilk test, Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman’s rank correlation test and linear regression. Results: We did not establish statistically significant differences in the frequency of primary morbidity of women with malignant neoplasms of the ovaries, regardless of the environmental conditions of living. Furthermore, no significant correlations were found between the frequency of primary morbidity of ovarian malignancies, both with the level of contamination by Cesium-137 and Strontium-90, and air pollution with volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. A statistically significant increase in the long-term trend in the frequency of ovarian malignant neoplasms was revealed in the areas of chemical pollution (p = 0.02), however, in other territories, no statistically significant regularities were established. The forecast of the frequency of newly diagnosed malignant neoplasms of the ovaries on average in the Bryansk region shows an increase of 12.4% in 2020 in comparison with the real data for 2020, while the largest increase in predicted values is recorded in the territories of radioactive contamination (by 79.6%), and the least in the combined territories (by 6.9%). Conclusions: The results obtained indicate the need for further work to understand the trends in the presence/absence of independent and combined effects of pollutants and the growth of oncogynecological pathology from the perspective of assessing the distant and regional metastasis, histological and immunohistochemical profile of a specific malignant ovarian neoplasm with levels of environmental contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

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15 pages, 7392 KiB

Open AccessHypothesis

The Role of Mitochondrial Mutations in Chronification of Inflammation: Hypothesis and Overview of Own Data

by Alexander N. Orekhov, Nikita G. Nikiforov, Andrey V. Omelchenko, Vasily V. Sinyov, Igor A. Sobenin, Andrey Y. Vinokurov and Varvara A. Orekhova

Life 2022, 12(8), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12081153 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2440

Abstract

Chronic human diseases, especially age-related disorders, are often associated with chronic inflammation. It is currently not entirely clear what factors are responsible for the sterile inflammatory process becoming chronic in affected tissues. This process implies impairment of the normal resolution of the inflammatory response, when pro-inflammatory cytokine production ceases and tissue repair process begins. The important role of the mitochondria in the correct functioning of innate immune cells is currently well recognized, with mitochondrial signals being an important component of the inflammatory response regulation. In this work, we propose a hypothesis according to which mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations may play a key role in rendering certain cells prone to prolonged pro-inflammatory activation, therefore contributing to chronification of inflammation. The affected cells become sites of constant pro-inflammatory stimulation. The study of the distribution of atherosclerotic lesions on the surface of the arterial wall samples obtained from deceased patients revealed a focal distribution of lesions corresponding to the distribution of cells with altered morphology that are affected by mtDNA mutations. These observations support the proposed hypothesis and encourage further studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art in Biomedicine in Russia Federation)

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