This study was designed to analyze the effect of environmental oxidative stress on human placental monooxygenases, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)–DNA adducts in human term placentas from radioactivity-contaminated and chemically-polluted areas of the Ukraine and Belarus, and to compare these biomarkers to the newborn’s general health status. Placental PAH–DNA adduct formation, GST activity, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) activity, and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), an index of lipid peroxidation, were measured in groups of women exposed to different levels of radioactivity and PAH pollution. The in vitro metabolism data, obtained from 143 human placental samples at term, were compared to indices of maternal and newborn health. The highest ECOD activity was recorded in placentas obtained from chemically-polluted areas and a radioactivity-contaminated area; the ECOD activity was 7-fold and 2-fold higher compared to the region considered to be “clean”. Newborns with the most compromised health status displayed the greatest down-regulation of GST activity (144–162 mU mg protein−1 vs. 258–395 mU mg protein−1), enhanced ECOD activity and the highest level of PAH–DNA adduct formation. The highest level of TBARS was observed in women exposed to the highest levels of radiation. The efficiency of placental detoxification negatively correlated with maternal age and the health status of the newborn. Environmental oxidative stress was related to an increase in anemia, threatened abortions, toxemia, fetal hypoxia, spontaneous abortions and fetal hypotrophy. Our data suggest that chemically- or radioactivity-induced oxidative stress enhance cytochrome P450-mediated enzymatic activities potentially resulting in increased formation of reactive metabolites. The activity of GSH-transferase is not enhanced. This imbalance in detoxification capacity can be measured as increased production of PAH–DNA adducts, decreased lipid peroxidation and compromised fetal health.

Quercetin (QUE) and its water-soluble form сorvitin are medicinally important members of the flavonoid family and the most prominent dietary antioxidants. Numerous pharmacological effects of quercetin include protection against diseases, such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular disea ses. Corvitin modulates liver blood flow but its effects on liver lipid metabolism have not been understood. We investigated the influence of corvitin (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) on the formation and secretion of cholesterol (Chol), cholesterol esters (EChol), phospholipids (PLs), free fatty acids (FFAs), and triglycerides (TGs) into the bile. Secreted bile was collected during 2.5 h of the experiment. Lipid fractions of the bile were separated by thin-layer chromatography. We defined that administration of corvitin caused a significant (P < 0.05-0.001) increase in levels of all studied lipid components of bile. At a dose of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg corvitin increased bile content of Chol, PLs and FFAs,and at a dose of 10 mg/kg had the largest effect on the total production of EChol and TGs. We concluded that corvitin activates the liver lipids metabolism and processes of bile formation.

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Water-soluble analogue of quercetin, corvitin is used in patients with myocardial infarction as blocker of 5-lipoxygenase. However, its effects on secretion, lipid content and physico-chemical properties of bile have not been understood yet. We investigated the effect of corvitin, applied in different doses, on the level of bile flow, the content of bile free and esterified cholesterol, phospholipids, triacylglycerols, and free fatty acids. In order to determine stability of the bile colloidal system, we examined the relationship between different lipid components. The rats were injected intraportally with a bolus of corvitin. At doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, the latter increased bile flow and concentration of total cholates, as well as free fatty acids. Corvitin (5 mg/kg) elevated phospholipids and cholesterol content, but at a dose of 10 mg/kg it increased the concentration of bile cholesterol esters and triacylglycerols. Corvitin applied at doses of 2.5 and 10 mg/kg increased total cholates/cholesterol ratio, but at a dose of 10 mg/kg, the drug reduced cholesterol / esterified cholesterol ratio. The results suggest that corvitin exerts choleretic effect and improves stability of bile colloidal system.

We studied dynamics of the activity of the default networks as the human large scale brain networks in response to the ocular influence of light, which was nano-modified with a fullerene filter. We examined 7 volunteers (4 males and 3 females) aged from 18 to 22 years without health complaints, right-handers, students. The ocular pathway of the light influence was provided by the use of glasses with fullerene (C 60) filters (Zepter Tesla LightWear, 0.3‰ in polymethylmethacrylate organic glass, 2 mm thick), for placebo we used glasses in a similar frame with a filter similar in the light range but not containing fullerene. For EEG recording and analysis, we used the Neuron-Spectrum-4/VP complex (NeuroSoft). The recording was carried out in monopolar way, with a quantization frequency of 500 Hz, the electrodes were arranged according to the international system 10-20 in 19 leads. In each lead, the power spectral density was calculated for all EEG frequency ranges according to the Neuron-Spectrum program. Statistical analysis was performed by using Statistica 8.0 (StatSoft, USA). As a result of the study, we obtained significant differences (as compared with placebo) of the electrical activity of the human brain (EEG) under the influence of light transmitted through a fullerene filter. Changes in the delta and theta ranges indicated changes in the state of the default networks, since they are characterized by low-frequency of EEG oscillations. Reduced EEG activity in the alpha range in the right frontal zone indicated an increase in interregional synchronization involving figurative information in the processes of internal thinking. Increased EEG activity in the delta range in the temporal zone indicated activation of the imaging modeling processes of the future, and reduced EEG activity in the in the posterior temporal area indicated a decrease of attention to internal processes, i.e. relaxing. Increased EEG activity in the theta range in the posterior singular cortex testified to the intensification the processes of introspective emotional experience of the past events. These data suggest that under the influence of light, modified at the nano-scale level by fullerene, there developed a more contemplative attitude toward the introspective emotional experiences of the past events developed while they were actively involved in figurative modeling of a hypothetical future.