Objectives. To investigate the effectiveness of various options for organizing the process of diabatic distillation in the separation of a mixture of acetone–toluene–n-butanol by extractive distillation (ED) with dimethylformamide as an entrainer in a scheme where an entrainer is used in the first column.

Methods. Mathematical modeling in the Aspen Plus v. 12.1 software package was used as the primary research method. The local Non-Random Two Liquid composition equation was used as a model for describing vapor–liquid equilibrium. Parametric optimization of diabatic schemes was carried out according to the criterion of reduced energy costs.

Results. Based on ED scheme for an acetone–toluene–n-butanol mixture with an entrainer in the first column, four options for organizing diabatic distillation schemes were considered, both with and without increasing the temperature of the flows due to compression.

Conclusion. It is shown that the use of diabatic schemes in the ED of an acetone–toluene–n-butanol mixture with dimethylformamide can decrease energy consumption by 11–17%. While the maximum reduction in energy consumption is achieved in a scheme using a compressor, the efficiency of schemes without a compressor is slightly lower. Nevertheless, the technological design of the latter is much simpler.

Objectives. To synthesize tertiary amines containing gem-dichlorocyclopropane or 1,3-dioxolane fragmentusing the Mannich reaction, as well as obtain ethyl ester of β-aminopropionic acidbydecarboxylation of tert-amine, a derivative of diethylmalonate containing a gem- dichlorocyclopropane fragment.
Methods. In order to obtain tertiary amines by the Mannich reaction, the microwave activation method was used. To determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of the reaction masses, gas chromatography, electron ionization mass spectrometry, and 1H-, 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry methodswere used.
Results. Under microwave radiationconditions, tertiary amines containing gem- dichlorocyclopropane or 1,3-dioxolane fragment were synthesized by condensation of secondary amines, CH-acids, and paraformaldehyde.
Conclusions. Tertiary amines containing a gem-dichlorocyclopropane or cycloacetal fragment in their structure were obtainedin high yields under microwave radiation.

Objectives. To study the possibility of combining acid-catalytic cyclohexanol dehydration and alkoxycarbonylation of the formed cyclohexene with cyclohexanol and carbon(II) oxide in a single reactor in order to achieve high yields of the target cyclohexyl cyclohexanecarboxylate product under mild conditions using the Pd(OAc)₂–PPh₃–p-toluenesulfonic acid catalytic system.
Methods. The combined process took place in a toluene medium in a periodic steel reactor designed to operate at elevated pressure, equipped with a glass insert, a magnetic stirrer, and a sampler, as well as gas input and discharge devices. The reaction mass with the components of the catalytic system was placed in a glass reactor inside a steel autoclave. The reaction mass samples obtained during the combined process were analyzed by gas–liquid chromatography with a flame ionization detector.
Results. The possibility of combining cyclohexanol dehydration catalyzed by p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate and formed cyclohexene alkoxycarbonylation with cyclohexanol and CO during catalysis by the Pd(OAc)₂–PPh₃–p-toluenesulfonic acid system in a single reactor was demonstrated. Under mild conditions (temperature 110°C; CO pressure 2.1 MPa), the target product yield reached 64.8% in 5 h. However, the combined process is complicated by the formation of a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid by-product formed as a result of the cyclohexyl cyclohexanecarboxylate hydrolysis and the cyclohexene hydroxycarbonylation.

Conclusions. The reactions of intramolecular acid-catalytic cyclohexanol dehydration and formed cyclohexene alkoxycarbonylation catalyzed by the Pd(OAc)₂–PPh₃–p-toluenesulfonic acid system can be combined in a single reactor. p-Toluenesulfonic acid can simultaneously act as a catalyst for the cyclohexanol dehydration and a co-catalyst of the palladium–phosphine system of cyclohexene alkoxycarbonylation. The involvement of cyclohexene, representing a product of reversible cyclohexanol dehydration, in the alkoxycarbonylation reaction is a factor in shifting the dehydration reaction equilibrium towards the formation of cyclohexene. Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid is a by-product of the proposed combined process. A factor in the reduction of target product yield is water formed as a result of cyclohexanol dehydration due to the involvement of the latter in the hydrolysis reaction and the course of the cyclohexene hydroxycarbonylation.

Objectives. The study aimed to examine the potential use of ethanol extracts of four medicinal plants to prevent and treat gout disease.
Methods. An investigation of some typical compound contents such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins in terms of two bioactive abilities, including anti-xanthine oxidase and antioxidant was carried out in Eclipta prostrata L., Artemisia vulgaris L., Apium graveolens L., and Piper betle L samples. Subsequently, the weight ratios of Piper betle L. and Artemisia vulgaris L. were investigated to reduce the total tannin content and get the most suitable anti-xanthine oxidase activity.
Results. As well as having the highest target compound contents, Piper betle L. demonstrated the best anti-xanthine oxidase and antioxidant abilities even while its IC50 values were lower than positive control; however, its high total tannin content can cause some side effects. A mixture with a weight ratio of 1:1 of Piper betle L. and Artemisia vulgaris L. had a total tannin content half that of Piper betle L. as well as demonstrating potential anti-xanthine oxidase and antioxidant activities when IC50 was about 3.94 and 20.85 µg/mL, respectively.
Conclusions. Out of the four selected plants, Piper betle L. demonstrated the best potential material for preventing and treating gout disease. However, due to the high tannin content in it, a mix of Piper betle L. and Artemisia vulgaris L. at a weight ratio of 1:1 gave optimal results for application in treatment.

Objectives. To develop a technology for obtaining recombinant antibodies in a suspension culture of human HEK293 cells using transduction with recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) carrying genes expressing heavy and light chains of antibodies on the example of two broadspectrum anti-influenza antibodies 27F3 and CR9114.
Methods. Ad5-27F3-H, Ad5-CR9114-H, and Ad5-27F3-L recombinant adenoviruses carrying the 27F3 antibody heavy chain gene, CR9114 antibody heavy chain gene, and 27F3 light chain gene, respectively, were generated using the AdEasy™ Adenoviral vector system. To accumulate preparative amounts of recombinant r27F3 and rCR9114 antibodies, the HEK293 suspension cell line was transduced with recombinant adenoviruses carrying genes for heavy and light chains of antibodies. The cells were cultured in a wave-type bioreactor. Chromatography was used to purify recombinant antibodies from the culture medium. After analyzing the molecular weights of purified antibodies using protein electrophoresis, their ability to interact with influenza A and B viruses was analyzed using the Western blot technique, while their ability to neutralize influenza A and B viruses was evaluated using the virus neutralization assay.
Results. A method for the accumulation and purification of recombinant r27F3 and CR9114 antibodies from the culture medium of a suspension culture of human cells following transduction with its recombinant adenoviruses carrying the genes for heavy and light chains of these antibodies was developed. The ability of the r27F3 antibody to interact with and neutralize influenza A viruses of group 1 (except influenza A virus subtype H2) and group 2 was shown. The ability of the rCR9114 antibody to interact with influenza A viruses of group 1 and influenza B viruses, as well as to neutralize influenza A viruses of group 1, was demonstrated.
Conclusions. A technology for obtaining recombinant antibodies in a suspension culture of HEK293 cells using transduction with recombinant adenoviruses carrying genes expressing heavy and light chains of antibodies was developed along with a confirmation of their specificity.

Objectives. Cobalt mimics the state of hypoxia to prevent degradation of the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor, resulting in an increase in blood oxygen capacity and endurance. Athletes can use this property to gain competitive advantage. Nowadays, direct methods of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry are used to determine total cobalt levels in the body. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency is yet to establish a maximum allowable threshold concentration of this element in biofluids. The lack of clear identification criteria complicates the interpretation of the obtained results for the purposes of doping control. In this regard, the present work proposes a new approach for the indirect determination of possible cobalt abuse based on changes in the expression levels of miRNAs involved in the regulation of hypoxia signaling pathways. Here, the aim is to identify possible microRNA markers whose expression does not depend on exercise-induced hypoxia, but changes markedly when taking cobalt preparations.
Methods. MicroRNA isolation was performed from blood plasma samples using the PAXgene Blood miRNA Kit. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on CFX96 Bio-Rad (USA) analyzer using miScript® SYBR® Green PCR Kits and panels for studying the expression profiles of mature microRNAs of the hypoxia signaling pathway miScript® miRNA PCR Array.
Results. Based on the statistical analysis of the data, it was found that the expression of hsa-miR-15b-5p in the blood plasma of the subjects does not depend on physical activity, but increases when taking cobalt preparations.
Conclusions. The difference in expression levels during anaerobic exercise-induced hypoxia and cobalt-induced hypoxia makes hsa-miR-15b-5p a potential candidate to be a marker of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent abuse.