[Cosmeceuticals today].

The main properties of cosmeceuticals, a new category of intensive care cosmetic products intermediate between traditional cosmetics and medicines are considered. Special care is needed when carrying out studies for the validation of the safety and efficiency claims of these products. The place of cosmeceuticals among modern restorative and aesthetic medicine technologies are discussed along with the main causes behind their appearance on the market including rapid accumulation of knowledge about stratum corneum and aspiration of senior citizens for better looks and quality of life.

[Polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum: factors affecting their production].

The conditions of polysaccharide production by the fungus Ganoderma lucidum were optimized. The maximal yield of endopolysaccharides and exopolysaccharides was observed at 25-30 degrees C, initial pH of culture medium 4.0-6.

[Evaluation of the functional activity of the bronchial mucosa in pulmonary tuberculosis and other lung diseases].

Tracheobronchography using tantal powder was used to study the functional activity of the intact and altered bronchial mucosa that manifested itself as the unchanged outline of the mucosa and its clearance (mucociliary clearance). With the intact mucosa, the sequence of its clearance was established; the mechanism of powder transport was studied, which showed up as the appearance of metachronal fields, fusion of particles into conglomerates that form currents that direct towards the larynx. The clearance of the mucosa was over by hours 20-24.

[Composition and biological activity of submerged mycelium of the xylotrophic basidiomycete Lentinus edodes].

The composition of submerged mycelium of Lentinus edodes, grown in laboratory fermenters, has been studied. The mycelium contained 23-24% proteins, 8-9% lipids, up to 1800 mg% phenolic substances, and a significant amount of inorganic substances, including calcium and iron. The fungus produced up to 5.

[Induction of chemiluminescence of peritoneal exudate macrophages after exposure to an electric field].

The effect of the external high voltage electric field pulses on the suspension of rat peritoneal phagocytes has been investigated using chemiluminescent and turbodimetric methods. Single electric field pulses were found to activate macrophages, which was accompanied by a "flash" of chemiluminescence. Subthreshold electric field strength up to 0.

Electrical stability of artificial membranes.

The electrical breakdown potential of the planar lipid membranes has been shown to decrease following UV-induced lipid peroxidation, action of phospholipase A2, adsorption of protamine sulphate and expansion of the membrane by hydrostatic pressure. Membrane potential generated upon the addition of potassium acetate (or ammonium sulphate) and protonophore CCCP to liposomes, when large enough, was also able to break membranes; this was suggested by liposome swelling and a rapid decrease in suspension turbidity. UV-irradiation decreased liposomal membrane breakdown potential, while cholesterol increased it.

[Electric stability of liposome membranes in UV-induced lipid peroxidation].

It has been shown that UV-induced peroxide oxidation of lipids (POL) and its water-soluble products similarly affect the liposomes of egg lecithin and mitochondrial lipids; they decrease the electric stability of the membranes, and aggregation ability of vesicles and increase proton permeability of the membranes. Possible mechanism of the increase of membrane ionic permeability during POL is discussed.

[Electrical breakdown of erythrocyte membranes during UV-radiation].

The electric stability of erythrocyte membrane was shown to reduce under UV-radiation. The disturbing action of UV-radiation depends on the value of membrane potential difference.

[Electrical breakdown of erythrocyte membranes attributed to the diffusion potential difference].

A potential difference of a certain value can be obtained on the erythrocyte membranes if the cells are suspended in isotonic solution of low Cl- concentration. The potential value may be estimated by the pH changes in the medium without buffer. When the chloride membrane potential is high enough the electric breakdown, i.

[Hyperthyroidism: increase in the electrical stability of membranes from liver mitochondria lipids].

Electrical stability of the membranes was assessed in bilayer lipid membranes and liposomes. It was shown that the break down potential of the membranes prepared from mitochondrial phospholipids of hyperthyroid rabbits' liver is higher than that for the membranes from mitochondrial lipids of the control animals. It is suggested that the increased electrical stability of the membranes is consequent on the changes in the phospholipid content of liver mitochondrial membranes in hyperthyrosis.

[Proton permeability and electric breakdown of phospholipid membranes after UV-irradiation].

Lipid peroxidation induced in bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) by UV-irradiation leads to two types of effects: selective in proton permeability and electric breakdown of the membranes. Both phenomena are always observed but the contribution of each in the membrane conductivity increase depends on the lipid nature (degree of unsaturation of fatty acids) and the value of transmembrane applied to BLM or generated by the membrane itself.