Diffusion and diffusion-osmosis models of the transfer of charged molecules across biological barriers

Mathematical models of the transfer of large enough charged molecules (macroions) have been constructed on the basis of the classical equations of electromigration diffusion (Helmholtz-Smoluchowski, Goldman, and Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz). It is shown that ion transfer in placental barriers (mimicking lipid-protein membrane barriers) and in muscle barriers proceeds by different mechanisms. In placental barriers, the electromigration diffusion takes place through lipid-protein channels formed by conformational alteration of phospholipid and protein molecules, with diffusion coefficients D = (2.6–3.6) × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s. The transfer in muscle barriers is due to migration via charged interfibrillar channels with negative diffusion activation energy (explained by changes in the structure of muscle fibers and expenditures of thermal energy for the displacement of Cl⁻ from channel walls), and D = (6.0–10.0) × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s.     

The wavelet analysis at heliobiological connections

The Wavelet analysis of the time series of the number of insults per day and the variations of heliogeophysical indices was carried out. The patterns of Wavelet coefficients for both processes show a complex nonstationary behavior and the presence of periodic and acyclic constituents on different scales. During heliogeophysipal disturbances, the energy contribution to the processes increases more than threefold compared with the mean value on scales from three to five days.     

A new approach to stroke prevention in Russia

Considerable burden of stroke along with continuously increasing cost of medical help to stroke patients in Russia prompt to search for new and more efficient strategies for stroke prevention. These strategies should encompass improvement of people’s awareness of stroke symptoms and risk factors, as well as accessible information on how to modify the risk factors. Here we present the Stroke Riskometer? app for smartphones which fulfills the abovementioned criteria. This tool has been developed based on research data and is acknowledged by the international medical community. Russian version is also available. The app allows to determine personal risk of stroke in adults within the next 5 to 10 years; it also helps to reveal personal risk factors for stroke and appropriate ways to mitigate these factors. We believe that wide use of this app in Russia will help to significantly reduce incidence of stroke.