The specialized scientific department, Central Scientific Research Laboratory (CSRL) was established in 1964. In 1992, the CSRL was re-arranged as the Scientific-Research Center (SRC) that currently functions as an independent subdivision.
In different years the Central Scientific Research Laboratory was headed by A.G. Bazarjyan (1964-1968), Dz.M. Avakyan (1969-1972), D.N. Khudaverdyan (1972-1984), A.V. Zilfyan (1984-2004); S.P. Kocharyan (2004); G.G. Artsruni (2004-2006); A.V. Zilfyan (since 2006 till present).
The Historical Profile of scientific-research activity performed by the Scientific-Research Center.
Nowadays, the following laboratories are functioning at the Scientific-Research Center of the Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) after Mkhitar Heratsi:
- Laboratory of Morphological Research,
- Laboratory of Immune-enzyme Research,
- Laboratory of Biochemical and Biophysical Research,
- Laboratory of Epidemiological Research, Environmental Quality, and Delayed Effects.
In its scientific-research activity the Scientific-Research Center is proceeding from the “Statement on the activity of the Scientific-Research Center” approved at the Scientific-Coordinating Council of the YSMU.
The main task of the Scientific-Research Center is to perform independent and comprehensive (complex) studies jointly with the Chairs of the University (according to the scope of research assigned to Chairs and approved), including provision of scientific, advisory and practical assistance to Chair members carrying out fragments of their research on PhD and Doctoral dissertations on the base of the Scientific-Research Center.
Since 2004 until present, the staff of the Scientific-Research Center is engaged in elaboration of the self-substantiated scientific trend “Biological significance of bacterial translocation process in the integrative activity of the organism in norm and in a process of general adaptive syndrome formation”. The Scientific Leader of this research is Professor Arto V. Zilfyan, MD, Sci.D. - the Head of Scientific-Research Center and Laboratory of Morphological Research. Within the scope of elaborated scientific trends the immune, endocrine, morphological, biochemical and bacteriological aspects are studied in case of a wide range of maladies: diseases of the hepatobiliary system, gastric (peptic) ulcers, chronic intestinal insufficiency, crash-syndrome, the pathogenetic and clinical-and-diagnostic manifestations of which are considered in the frame of a “polyorganic insufficiency syndrome”.
At the Laboratory of Immune-enzyme Research (Head: Stepan A. Avakyan, PhD in Biology ) the research is performed on the role of such polyamines as putrescine, spermine and spermidine in regulatory mechanisms of cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems.
Moreover, both the Laboratory of Morphological Research and Laboratory of Immune-enzyme Research carry out joint studies with the following YSMU Chairs: Chair of Normal Anatomy; Chair of Pathological Anatomy; Chair of Histology; Chair of Microbiology; Immunology and Virology; Chair of Biochemistry; Chair of General and Bioorganic Chemistry; Chair of Pharmacology; Chair of Surgical Diseases (Pathology); Chair of Internal Diseases; Chair of Pharmaceuticals Technology; Chair of Field (Military) Therapy. The collaborative research embraces issues relevant to the role of neurohormones (melatonin, insulin-like growth factor, prolactin, somatotropin); hormones of endocrine secretion peripheral glands (cortisol, parathyroid hormone, insulin, testosterone, progesterone, estradiol); cytokines (TNFα,β, interleukin –I, II and VI, γ-interferon, fibronectin; as well as key mediators and enzymes of GABa-ergic system of integrative activity of the organism in norm and in case of numerous extreme conditions.
The latter is performed in models of acute and chronic stress caused by various provoking factors, hypokinesis, acute destructive pancreatitis, acute intestinal insufficiency, crash-syndrome, neurodegeneration, purulent wounds. In addition, special studies address aspects of immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic dilation cardiomyopathy, teeth- and parodontal complex diseases, anterior chamber associated immune deviation (ACAID).
Under the scientific supervision of G.G. Artsruni (Sc.D. Biol.), the Head of Laboratory of Biological and Biophysical Research, the biological mechanisms of action exerted by electrostatic fields are studied at different levels of biomaterial organization. The research is aimed to reveal the influence of electrostatic fields to the main oxygen-dependent processes: oxidation-reduction reactions in tissues, structure-functional state of mitochondria, processes of lipid peroxidation, oxygen utilization by the endoplasmic reticulum.
At different levels of structural organization, the cytoangioarchitectonics of liver and adrenals are studied and comparison of data on morphological and ultrastructural analyses with the shifts of corticosterone, catecholamines, and their precursors in adrenals and blood is done. The subjects of special investigations are processes ensuring oxygen supply/delivery to tissues: structure-functional state of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and microhemocirculation bed.
The Laboratory of Epidemiological Research, Environmental Quality, and Delayed Effects headed by A.N. Tshantshapanyan (PhD in Chem.) is engaged in research on man-made (anthropogenic) pollution impacts to the environment of the Republic of Armenia. The aim of the research is to determine the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and their metabolites in air, soil, water, and certain bio-media, and, based on the obtained findings, to study their possible negative effects to the human organism. Studies are also performed to reveal probable unfavourable effects of different household goods and means produced in the Republic of Armenia or imported (cleansing and household detergents, construction materials, toys, polymer glues, artworks, etc.) made of various polymers and other synthetic compounds.
In order to achieve mentioned goals, the Laboratory staff performs the following tasks:
The main task of the Scientific-Research Center is to perform independent and comprehensive (complex) studies jointly with the Chairs of the University (according to the scope of research assigned to Chairs and approved), including provision of scientific, advisory and practical assistance to Chair members carrying out fragments of their research on PhD and Doctoral dissertations on the base of the Scientific-Research Center.
Since 2004 until present, the staff of the Scientific-Research Center is engaged in elaboration of the self-substantiated scientific trend “Biological significance of bacterial translocation process in the integrative activity of the organism in norm and in a process of general adaptive syndrome formation”. The Scientific Leader of this research is Professor Arto V. Zilfyan, MD, Sci.D. - the Head of Scientific-Research Center and Laboratory of Morphological Research. Within the scope of elaborated scientific trends the immune, endocrine, morphological, biochemical and bacteriological aspects are studied in case of a wide range of maladies: diseases of the hepatobiliary system, gastric (peptic) ulcers, chronic intestinal insufficiency, crash-syndrome, the pathogenetic and clinical-and-diagnostic manifestations of which are considered in the frame of a “polyorganic insufficiency syndrome”.
At the Laboratory of Immune-enzyme Research (Head: Stepan A. Avakyan, PhD in Biology ) the research is performed on the role of such polyamines as putrescine, spermine and spermidine in regulatory mechanisms of cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems.
Moreover, both the Laboratory of Morphological Research and Laboratory of Immune-enzyme Research carry out joint studies with the following YSMU Chairs: Chair of Normal Anatomy; Chair of Pathological Anatomy; Chair of Histology; Chair of Microbiology; Immunology and Virology; Chair of Biochemistry; Chair of General and Bioorganic Chemistry; Chair of Pharmacology; Chair of Surgical Diseases (Pathology); Chair of Internal Diseases; Chair of Pharmaceuticals Technology; Chair of Field (Military) Therapy. The collaborative research embraces issues relevant to the role of neurohormones (melatonin, insulin-like growth factor, prolactin, somatotropin); hormones of endocrine secretion peripheral glands (cortisol, parathyroid hormone, insulin, testosterone, progesterone, estradiol); cytokines (TNFα,β, interleukin –I, II and VI, γ-interferon, fibronectin; as well as key mediators and enzymes of GABa-ergic system of integrative activity of the organism in norm and in case of numerous extreme conditions.
The latter is performed in models of acute and chronic stress caused by various provoking factors, hypokinesis, acute destructive pancreatitis, acute intestinal insufficiency, crash-syndrome, neurodegeneration, purulent wounds. In addition, special studies address aspects of immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic dilation cardiomyopathy, teeth- and parodontal complex diseases, anterior chamber associated immune deviation (ACAID).
Under the scientific supervision of G.G. Artsruni (Sc.D. Biol.), the Head of Laboratory of Biological and Biophysical Research, the biological mechanisms of action exerted by electrostatic fields are studied at different levels of biomaterial organization. The research is aimed to reveal the influence of electrostatic fields to the main oxygen-dependent processes: oxidation-reduction reactions in tissues, structure-functional state of mitochondria, processes of lipid peroxidation, oxygen utilization by the endoplasmic reticulum.
At different levels of structural organization, the cytoangioarchitectonics of liver and adrenals are studied and comparison of data on morphological and ultrastructural analyses with the shifts of corticosterone, catecholamines, and their precursors in adrenals and blood is done. The subjects of special investigations are processes ensuring oxygen supply/delivery to tissues: structure-functional state of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and microhemocirculation bed.
The Laboratory of Epidemiological Research, Environmental Quality, and Delayed Effects headed by A.N. Tshantshapanyan (PhD in Chem.) is engaged in research on man-made (anthropogenic) pollution impacts to the environment of the Republic of Armenia. The aim of the research is to determine the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and their metabolites in air, soil, water, and certain bio-media, and, based on the obtained findings, to study their possible negative effects to the human organism. Studies are also performed to reveal probable unfavourable effects of different household goods and means produced in the Republic of Armenia or imported (cleansing and household detergents, construction materials, toys, polymer glues, artworks, etc.) made of various polymers and other synthetic compounds.
In order to achieve mentioned goals, the Laboratory staff performs the following tasks:
- monitoring on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in certain environmental media (air, soil, water) and bio-media (breast milk);
- sanitary hygienic and toxicological assessment/evaluation of goods and means made of polymer and other synthetic materials, which over-flooded the country market;
- investigation on delayed effects (infertility, complications of pregnancy and delivery, etc.) and physical development indices in newborns of the studied group;
- study on the state of the environment with the help of genetically sensitive test-systems and investigation on genetic changes in wild plants;
- cytogenetic studies for determination of spontaneous levels of micro nuclei in exfoliative cells of oral cavity mucous membrane (micronucleus test);
- based on the obtained results working-out preventive actions for human health protection in rural and urban population in order to provide information to appropriate concerned and control organizations.
The accomplishment of tasks set before the staff of the Scientific-Research Center became possible due to models approbated on the research base of the Center, as these modelsreplicate a number of pathology states in small and large laboratory animals, and due to adjusted newest informative methods of research
In conclusion, we consider it expedient to present main scientific achievements of the Scientific-Research Center for the period since 1997 to 2008.
In conclusion, we consider it expedient to present main scientific achievements of the Scientific-Research Center for the period since 1997 to 2008.
- A new concept was proposed on dominating role of autonomous functioning mechanisms of endocrine and immune systems synchronous activity both in the central nervous system and in periphery.
- For the first time, a concept was proposed on regulatory role of associations of resident microorganisms, the sphere of activity of which under conditions of physiological functioning of the organism is spread to its all integrative systems. According to the concept, intracorporeal resident associations of microorganisms inhabiting numerous econiches of the “host” should be considered as an independent system of the organism, the formation of which occurred stage-by-stage and selectively during the entire course of mammals’ evolution.
- It was established that thymocytes of humans and mammals under conditions of normal functioning immune system (without the additional stimulation of lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro) secrete GABA and parathyroid hormone, thus allowing –from the qualitatively new point of view – to interpret the role of calcium-regulating and GABA-ergic systems in maintenance of the periphery homeostasis.
- The new scheme of the human rheumatoid arthritis was put forward that the initial stage of disease progression is emergence of a symptomocomplex in solid tissues of the joints. According to the proposed hypothesis, in the mechanism of early resorption of cartilaginous and bone tissue an important role belongs to immunocytokines, in which pro-inflammatory factors and parathyroid hormone are revealed.
- The hypothesis was proposed on pathogenesis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCMP) that should be considered a peculiar dysadaptation syndrome based upon mechanisms of targeted synthesis of pro-inflammatory immunocytokines provoking the processes of early activation of fibroplastic processes in myocardium of patients with IDCMP.
- The expressed adaptogenic effect of immunocytokines isolated from the lymphocytes of intact thymus of large and small laboratory animals was revealed in models of immobilization- and adrenalin-induced stresses, wound-related anaerobic-aerobic infectious process, and “burn disease”.
- In order to meet the needs of experimental and clinical medicine, the specialists of the Scientific-Research Center suggested models, which allow from the qualitatively new position to study the aspects of pathogenesis and to perform the search for symptomatic and pathogenetic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, IDCMP, wound anaerobic-aerobic infectious process, “burn disease”.
- An installation and new methodic approaches were elaborated allowing to study the effect of strictly calibrated electrostatic fields (ESFs) towards biological objects.
- The integrated /unified mechanisms of biological activity produced by ESFs to all biological objects were revealed оn the basis of experimental and theoretical investigations. It was established that the response of biological objects to the action of ESFs reflects changes of numerous interrelated processes occurring as a result of either primary physical and chemical changes in biological structures (macromolecules, membranes), or under the effect of ESFs to the course of biological processes taking place at the qualitatively new energetic and metabolic levels.
- The strictly deterministic principle for selection of healthy population cohorts was proposed on the base of detailed analysis on chronobiological studies.
- The correlation dependence was found between the rhythmological shifts of melatonin with aldosterone and cortisol; this will allow, from qualitatively new point of view, to perform the entire complex of therapeutic-and-preventive measures based on the principle of intra-hormonal inter-regulation.