Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Anatoly and Andrey Skalny, father and son, and a professor and associate professor in the Department of Medical Elementology at the RUDN University Medical Institute, presented papers at the 20th International Symposium on Metal Ions, held in Mumbai. The event, which focused on the latest advances in dentistry and radiology, environmental protection, and public health, brought together 240 delegates from around the world.
Leading physicians, researchers, and students discussed topics such as artificial intelligence in healthcare, metal ion interactions in oncology, nanotechnology, and environmental carcinogens, including tobacco research. Practical workshops were also held on the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and orofacial pain, implant surgical guides using CBCT, and 3D printing in dentistry.
We spoke with Andrey Anatolyevich Skalny, who presented a paper on the role of microelements in the cardiovascular system, and learned from him the importance of his research and what it's like to be not only a speaker but also a section chair.
Why is the relationship between micronutrients and cardiovascular reactivity such a relevant topic for research?
Micronutrients play a vital role in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, from blood supply to the exchange of tissue and blood between cells. Selenium deficiency is a prime example. The more severe the deficiency, the greater the risk of myocardial infarction.
Why were hair and urine chosen for analysis? What are the advantages of this combined approach over blood testing alone? Is magnesium a kind of marker of general "physical ill-being"?
Hair and urine both perform an excretory function, removing waste or excess substances from the body. They partially complement each other, as urine reflects a short-term period of a few days, while hair provides information on elemental metabolism over a period of about six months. To assess changes in elemental metabolism as a whole, blood testing may be recommended in addition to urine and hair testing. Thus, all three different biosubstrates complement each other. Magnesium, like other macronutrients (potassium, sodium, sulfur, chlorine, calcium, and phosphorus), can be a marker of physical distress.
How can these results be used in clinical practice today? Do they allow for the development of new methods for diagnosing cardiovascular disease risks?
Blood and urine tests for macro- and microelements are clinical tests, while hair or nail analysis is a screening test. Together, they complement each other and provide more detailed information about the body's elemental metabolism. While blood and urine tests provide insight into a person's current and recent health status, hair and nail analysis provides an assessment of the risk of various conditions and diagnoses, and helps better understand chronic diseases. Of course, using diagnostics to measure elemental levels in the body allows for a better assessment of potential cardiovascular risks and prevention through timely prevention and the elimination of elemental deficiencies.
How does participation in such multidisciplinary conferences (dentistry, radiology, public health, AI) contribute to the development of science at RUDN?
A multidisciplinary approach to solving any health problem is the primary vector of scientific and medical development today. This applies equally to the development of science at RUDN University. It is at the intersection of different specialties that modern scientific discoveries are made.
Establishing interdisciplinary connections is one of the symposium's goals. Do you see potential for specific joint research in the field of medical elementology with your Indian colleagues?
Yes, there is certainly potential for development and collaboration. And we very much hope for mutual understanding and comprehensive cooperation in the field of medical elementology with our Indian colleagues.
The "Metal Ions" symposium has a rich history. What does it mean for you personally and for RUDN to receive an invitation of this caliber—not just to speak, but to be a guest of honor, chair the session, and be among the key figures at the opening ceremony?
My colleagues and I certainly consider this conference a must-attend scientific event for our discipline of medical elementology. We've been participating online for several years now. And I'm incredibly pleased that this time I was able to not only speak but also be a specially invited guest and chair one of the sections. My colleague from India and I listened to the presentations and asked questions about the topics. Everything took place in a friendly atmosphere. Regarding my presentation, the organizers and participants noted its relevance and showed interest both during and afterward, approaching me to thank me and asking questions about school nutrition and the role of elements in maintaining schoolchildren's health.
At the symposium, you represented two generations of RUDN University scientists. How do you view this "family" representation of Russian science on the international stage?
My opinion on this matter is partly subjective, but I think we complement each other. Many scientists are pleased and pleased to see direct inheritance in this scientific field. I enjoy developing my field and being responsible for the youth development vector. The organizing committee for the conference in India allocated us participation in various sections, and the presentations were distributed according to the topics.
What was the most interesting part of this trip for you personally? What impressions and discoveries were you hoping for from the conference and from interacting with your Indian colleagues?
Since this was my first visit to India, I was looking forward to the scientific events and activities, and the opportunity to interact with members of the scientific community with similar and related research interests. It was certainly unusual to be in a country I'd never visited before. It was a new culture, a different ethnic group, and a different outlook on life. I really hoped the trip would be fruitful and engaging from all perspectives. We planned to discuss agreements on jointly developing our field of medical elementology.
We asked Anatoly Viktorovich a few questions about the topic of his speech and his collaboration with his Indian colleagues.
What paper did you present at the symposium, and what was its essence? What reaction did you receive from your colleagues?
My report was devoted to a new area of medical elementology we are developing: ionomic profiling of diagnostic biosubstrates—blood, urine, hair, and others. This approach allows us to assess the body's elemental status, taking into account interelemental relationships. The resulting data is subjected to specialized mathematical processing, which allows us to identify the decisive rules and advance toward the early detection of pathologies and the assessment of complex biochemical processes.
What was the most interesting presentation you heard at a symposium that wasn't directly related to your topic?
Personally, I really enjoyed the presentations by analytical chemists from the research center, dedicated to the development and study of the effectiveness of remediation of contaminated sites. India is one of the world leaders in this field, and we, particularly environmentalists, have much to learn from them. Many presentations were devoted to nanobiology, and their results are of interest to representatives of our scientific school, including my students from the Federal Research Center for Biological Systems and Agricultural Technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Orenburg.
Were you able to reach an agreement on cooperation with your Indian colleagues?
Our Indian colleagues have expressed interest in developing our scientific collaboration, including through joint grants. We previously collaborated successfully with Thapar University in Punjab, and now hope to collaborate with the University of Mumbai. We have also reached agreements with representatives of several departments and the university clinic to begin work on establishing a Department of Medical Elementology, mirroring our department at RUDN University. Furthermore, the idea has emerged to hold one of the future "Metal Ions" symposia in Russia, at our university.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
