No 5 (2020)

Spherical nanoparticles (NP) of cadmium and lead sulfides (dia.37 ± 5 nm and 24 ± 4 nm, respectively) turned to be cytotoxic for HL-1 cardiomyocytes as illustrated by ATP-dependent luminescence reduction. It was revealed, that CdS-NP affect in a greater degree than PbS-NP. In view of the same dose range, CdS-NP decreased the amount of calcium spikes. Small PbS-NP doses showed the same effect. Besides cell hypertrophy due to certain CdS-NP and PbS-NP impact, doses leading to cardiomyocyte decrease were revealed. In order to correspond with the following three results, both monotonic «dose-response» functions (properly approximated by the hyperbolic function) as well as different variants of non-monotonic ones were deduced by us, for which adequate mathematical expressions through modifying certain hormesis models are to be had in literature. Evidence-based analysis involving response surface linear model as well as a cross term, acknowledged a new support to the formerly inflexible rule stating that the diversity kinds of combined action, typical for the same damaging agents’ pair is of the fundamental propositions in the general theory of combined toxicity.

The article is devoted to the hygienic assessment of the potential risk of general toxic effects for the health of the population in the Saratov region as a result of action of pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen mono - and dioxides, ammonia, dust, formaldehyde) during forest fires. The relevance of this work is due to the significant role of forest fires in air pollution and the special vulnerability of the Saratov region to forest fires. The results of the study allow to judge the significant role of forest fires in air pollution in the Saratov region: there are significant excesses of the hygienic permissible levels of maximum single and average daily concentrations of pollutants (nitrogen mono- and dioxides, ammonia, dust, formaldehyde), which create an unfavorable environmental situation, contribute to the development and progression of many human diseases.

Acute hellebore poisoning is characteristic for the Russian Federation because of the use of this plant for the treatment of alcoholism at home. The varying severity of clinical symptoms, which sometimes become lifethreatening, the lack of anamnestic reliable information about the use of hellebore and the difficulties of chemical and toxicological confirmation of its use complicate the diagnosis of acute poisoning, and do not allow timely medical care. In addition, there is no classification of hellebore poisoning in ICD-10, block (T51-T65), which also affects the assessment of the actual frequency of this acute intoxication.
The purpose of this work is to clarify the number of acute hellebore poisoning in the Russian Federation. The analysis of medical records of patients hospitalized with acute hellebore poisoning in toxicological departments of a number of subjects of the Russian Federation for 2014 - 2018 was carried out. The dynamics of such acute poisoning over the specified period, the gender and age composition of victims, and the circumstances of poisoning were revealed. The relevance of developing methods of chemical and toxicological analysis for the determination of hellebore alkaloids is confirmed, which will increase the reliability of diagnosis and detection of cases of hellebore poisoning.

A bioassay of ricin toxicity in environmental samples using real-time cell index monitoring is proposed. The halfmaximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of ricin was estimated at 6,7 ng/ml for human hepatoma HepaRG cells proliferation. The antibodies to A- and B-subunits in HepaRG cell media lead to cytoprotective and antiapoptotic effects against the cytotoxicity of ricin. The antibodies neutralised activation of JNK kinase (phosphorylated at Thr183/Tyr185) and prevented accumulation of the active forms of caspase 8 (hydrolysed to Asp384) and caspase 9 (hydrolysed to Asp315) induced by ricin in HepaRG cells. The tested antibodies also prevented a decrease in the intracellular levels of the active forms of Akt 1 kinase (phosphorylated at Ser473) and transcription factor p53 (phosphorylated at Ser46) caused by ricin. The bioassay with antibodies can be considered as a specific method for identifying the toxin in environmental samples.

Zolmitriptan is a widely used antimigraine drug, belongs to the group of second-generation tryptans, has a pronounced central mechanism of action and high selectivity to serotonin receptors of 5HT_1D- and 5HT_1B-types. Zolmitriptan belongs to hazard class 3 according to GOST 12.1.007-76: DL₅₀ are 660 (495 - 881) mg/kg for male mice and 1045 (749 - 1292) mg/kg for female mice when administered into the stomach. When injected into the abdominal cavity, DL₅₀ is 172 (131 - 225) mg/kg for male mice. The drug has a weak irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the eyes, does not irritate the skin, there are no signs of skin-resorptive action, and has a low ability to accumulate. The threshold of acute inhalation action is set at 0,9 mg/m3 for the effect on the functional state of the nervous system and liver. For the zolmitriptan aerosol, it is recommended to approve the tentative safe exposure level in the air of the working area at 0,01 mg/m³ and the tentative safe exposure level in the atmospheric air of urban and rural settlements at 0,0001 mg/m³.