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Nowadays, there is an interest in biomedical and nanobiotechnological studies, such as studies on carotenoids as antioxidants and studies on molecular markers for cardiovascular, endocrine, and oncological diseases. Moreover, interest in industrial production of microalgal biomass for biofuels and bioproducts has stimulated studies on microalgal physiology and mechanisms of synthesis and accumulation of valuable biomolecules in algal cells. Biomolecules such as neutral lipids and carotenoids are being actively explored by the biotechnology community. Raman spectroscopy (RS) has become an important tool for researchers to understand biological processes at the cellular level in medicine and biotechnology. This review provides a brief analysis of existing studies on the application of RS for investigation of biological, medical, analytical, photosynthetic, and algal research, particularly to understand how the technique can be used for lipids, carotenoids, and cellular research. First, the review article shows the main applications of the modified Raman spectroscopy in medicine and biotechnology. Research works in the field of medicine and biotechnology are analysed in terms of showing the common connections of some studies as caretenoids and lipids. Second, this article summarises some of the recent advances in Raman microspectroscopy applications in areas related to microalgal detection. Strategies based on Raman spectroscopy provide potential for biochemical-composition analysis and imaging of living microalgal cells, in situ and in vivo. Finally, current approaches used in the papers presented show the advantages, perspectives, and other essential specifics of the method applied to plants and other species/objects.

Morphology of erythrocytes and conformation of hemoglobin-derived hematoporphyrin were studied in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and patients with circulatory failure using laser interference microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Correlation was revealed (r=0.81) between hemoglobin oxygen saturation and oxyhemoglobin fraction in erythrocytes evaluated by Raman spectroscopy. Patients with CHD and patients with circulatory failure showed reduced oxygen-releasing capacity of hemoglobin and hemoglobin content and increased oxygen-binding capacity of hemoglobin, and hemoglobin affinity for oxygen. Significant differences from the control were observed only in patients with circulatory failure. It was found that hemoglobin content, hematocrit, and the shape of erythrocytes during CHD and circulatory failure did not differ from the control, whereas the area of erythrocytes was increased.

The area, thickness, and volume of erythrocytes of different types (discocytes, stomatocytes, and echinocytes) from normal subjects and coronary patients were studied by laser interference microscopy. Increase of pH value leading to the stomatocyte-discocyte-echinocyte transformations resulted in a slight decrease of cell volume. In coronary patients, erythrocyte had larger area and volume and exhibited increased aggregation capacity compared to erythrocytes from controls. The results recommend laser interference microscopy as an adequate method for erythrocyte evaluation in laboratory diagnostic measurements.

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The pandemic of a new coronavirus infection – COVID-19 («Coronavirus disease 2019») has changed the routine management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Like patients with other chronic cardiovascular diseases, PAH patients are not at higher risk of a new coronavirus infection. However, in the current epidemiological situation, the problems of managing high-risk groups are sharply indicated, in which the severe course of COVID-19 with a higher lethality is more often noted. Undoubtedly, рatients with different forms of pulmonary hypertension belong to the high-risk group, considering both the presence of severe lifethreatening cardiovascular pathology and background pathology in cases of the associated forms of the disease.At the same time, the first foreign experience indicates a rather low incidence and relatively favorable course of COVID-19 in PAH, which allows to formulate a number of hypotheses that will be confirmed or rejected in the near future. The unique problems of managing patients with PAH are those associated with changes in generally accepted standards of medical care and patient routing, which is especially important for patients receiving PAH-specific drugs. The problems of a complex assessment of the risk of possible infection in the event of hospitalization or an outpatient visit of patients on the one hand, and on the other, the risk of PAH progression with a delay in starting treatment, are a dilemma that requires an individual solution. Based on an analysis of current data, this review summarizes the main approaches to managing patients with PAH in the current epidemiological situation.