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The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine malate (Ethoxidol) on the concentration of oxidative stress metabolites in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and hypertension. Materials and Methods. 126 patients with FC I-III CHF have been examined. In addition to their individual therapy these patients received intravenous infusions of Ethoxidol. Blood content of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), oxygen tension (рО 2), pH, concentration of total peroxides, lactate, and aldosterone were identified. 2,3-DPG levels (g/L erythrocytes) in whole blood samples were determined by an enzyme assay using the reagent kit (Rosh, Germany), values of рО 2 , рСО 2 , рН, lactate in the venous blood were measured using gas analyzer Stat Profil pHOx Ultra (Nova Biomedical, USA). Indices of oxidative stress, i.e. the concentration of plasma total peroxides, were investigated by ELISA using OxyStat kit (Biomedica, Austria). Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all patients before and 6 days after the daily intravenous Ethoxidol infusion. Results. In patients with FC I, II, III CHF, on day 7 after intravenous Ethoxidol infusion at a dose of 100 mg/day, statistically significant growth (p=0.0002) of PaO 2 level by 15.7, 17.4, and 22.8%, respectively, was noted. In patients with FC I, II, III CHF in the group receiving standard therapy, statistically significant (p=0.002) reduction of 2,3-DPG level by 2.7, 2.4, and 4.0%, respectively, was registered. On day 7 after the infusion of Ethoxidol at a dose of 100 mg/day, its decrease by 5.7, 10.5, and 26.2%, respectively (p<0.0001), was also observed.

We made recombinant antigen GE containing fragment of VZV glycoprotein E (Gly48 - Glu135) fused to E. coli beta-galactosidase and confirmed its antigen specificity by Western blotting and competitive-inhibition enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in comparison with commercial analogues and natural viral antigens. We showed interaction of recombinant GE protein with IgG antibodies from rabbits immunized by vaccine viral strain. GE protein also specifically reacted in ELISA with 66% of sera from zoster patients and 35% of sera from control groups including sera containing antibodies to other herpes viruses, sera from healthy donors, and sera from patients with different forms of intestinal disorders. Consequently, we demonstrated possibility of application of our recombinant GE VZV as antigen for diagnostics and research use.

The number of infections caused by microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics and synthetic antibacterial drugs is growing fast worldwide. This is one of the most important and urgent problems in health care. The main efforts of researchers around the world are focused on solving this issue. Nitrofurans represent one of the most effective classes of antibacterial drugs. We have synthesized 4 analogues of nifuroxazide – a well known nitrofuran antibiotic – and confirmed their structures by NMR, IR spectroscopy, and mass-spectrometry. All of the obtained compounds were studied for antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated by the agar diffusion method. The synthesized compounds suppressed the growth of all the studied bacterial strains except Escherichia coli; the diameter of the inhibition zones ranged from 13.5 to 28 mm depending on the concentration of the tested compound and bacterial strain. One of the compounds studied in this project – the pyridine analogue of nifuroxazide – exceeded the activity of the standard (nifuroxazide) against the Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibitory activity of the synthesized compounds against the Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans yeasts was determined using the microdilution method. The results were assessed according to the indicator color change. None of the studied compounds showed activity against these cultures. The obtained results confirm that substituted nifuroxazides have significant antimicrobial activity and, therefore, can be considered as promising candidates for developing new antibacterial drugs.

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