Comparative characteristics of cytokine regulation in patients with gastric diseases associated with <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection

When the body is infected with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, a cytokine cascade is launched, which plays a key role in the progression of chronic inflammatory and destructive processes in the gastric mucosa. Thus, the secretion of a number of cytokines is stimulated, which in turn contribute to the attraction of immunocompetent cells and the development of inflammatory changes. However, hyperproduction of cytokines can lead to atrophic changes in the gastric mucosa and, as a result, degeneration into gastric cancer. Thus, the role of cytokines in precancerous conditions is ambiguous. On the one hand, they activate the immune response aimed at eliminating the pathogen. On the other hand, they themselves contribute to the progression of the disease.The complex clinical and laboratory study included patients: 60 with chronic gastritis (CG), 55 with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 50 with gastric cancer (GC, stage I-II, morphological variant – adenocarcinoma) and 60 – control group. The diagnoses were verified according to international and Russian recommendations and confirmed by laboratory and instrumental studies. All patients were comparable in terms of gender and age characteristics (p &gt; 0.05). All patients had specific IgG to H. pylori. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the FRC KSC SB RAS (protocol No. 11 dated November 11, 2013). All ethical requirements were observed, and the patients signed the informed consent form for participation. Patients and persons of the control group underwent a single blood sampling from the cubital vein upon admission to vacutainers with heparin.The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, TNFα, interferon-γ in the blood serum of patients and healthy individuals were determined using the enzyme immunoassay method using reagent kits manufactured by JSC “VectorBest”. Statistical data processing was carried out using the Statistica for Windows 8.0 application package.All patients with H. pylori-associated diseases (CG, CAG, GC) showed an increase in pro-inflammatory (IL-2, IL-8, IFNγ) with a significant increase in IL-8 in all patients and IFNγ in gastric cancer and antiinflammatory cytokine (IL-4) with a maximum value in gastric cancer. A combined Th1 and Th2 is found – a mediated immune response with a maximum violation of cytokine regulation in gastric cancer

Ozone and nitrogen dioxide above the northern Tien Shan

The results of systematic perennial measurements of the total ozone (since 1979) and nitrogen dioxide column (since 1983) in the atmosphere in the European-Asian continent center above the mountainmass of the Tien Shan are given. This region is distinguished by a great number of sunny days during a year. The observation station is at the Northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake (42.56 N 77.04 E 1650 m above the sea level). The measurement results are presented as the monthly averaged atmospheric total ozone and NO2 stratospheric column abundances (morning and evening). The peculiarities of seasonal variations of ozone and nitrogen dioxide atmospheric contents, their regular variances with a quasi-biennial cycles and trends have been noticed. Irregular variances of ozone and nitrogen dioxide atmospheric contents, i.e. their positive and negative anomalies in the monthly averaged contents relative to the perennial averaged monthly means, have been analyzed. The synchronous and opposite in phase anomalies in variations of ozone and nitrogen dioxide atmospheric contents were explained by the transport and zonal circulation in the stratosphere (Kamenogradsky et al., 1990)

On The 100th Anniversary Of The Founder Of The Odessa Scientific School Of Economic Thought A. K. Pokrytan

The partnership between the Odessa National University of Economics and "D. A. Tsenov” Academy of Economics is an example of a successful model for adding value in the field of scientific research. With its annual scientific conferences, the Odessa National University of Economics has provided dozens of scientists from the Svishtov Academy and other foreign researchers with the opportunity to publish their papers abroad. Prof. Mihail Zveryakov himself is a Doctor Honoris Causa (Zastrahovatel.com, 2010) of D. A. Tsenov Academy and a prominent co-author in collaborative research publications indexed in SCOPUS Q1/WoS (Zahariev, et al., 2020). The paper commemorates and pays due respect to Prof. Anatoly Karpovich Pokrytan - one of the most prominent scientists in the field of economics whose centenary provided his scientific followers with the opportunity to reflect on his scientific legacy. The 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Odessa National Economic University in Ukraine (founded under the name Odessa Institute of National Economy) on 16 May 1921 is another evidence for our Ukrainian partner’s tenacity during the decades of intense socio-economic and ideological changes of the 20th and the 21st century

Optical polarization observations with the MASTER robotic net

We present results of optical polarization observations performed with the MASTER robotic net for three types of objects: gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and blazars. For the Swift gamma-ray bursts GRB100906A, GRB110422A, GRB121011A, polarization observations were obtained during very early stages of optical emission. For GRB100906A it was the first prompt optical polarization observation in the world. Photometry in polarizers is presented for Type Ia Supernova 2012bh during 20 days, starting on March 27, 2012. We find that the linear polarization of SN 2012bh at the early stage of the envelope expansion was less than 3%. Polarization measurements for the blazars OC 457, 3C 454.3, QSO B1215+303, 87GB 165943.2+395846 at single nights are presented. We infer the degree of the linear polarization and polarization angle. The blazars OC 457 and 3C 454.3 were observed during their periods of activity. The results show that MASTER is able to measure substantially polarized light; at the same time it is not suitable for determining weak polarization (less than 5%) of dim objects (fainter than 16$^m$). Polarimetric observations of the optical emission from gamma-ray bursts and supernovae are necessary to investigate the nature of these transient objects.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables; Exposure times in Table 2 have been correcte

Prevention of ulcer disease in goldfish by means of vaccination

A vaccine comprising cells of Aeromonas bestiarum grown in tryptic soy broth and atypical A. salmonicida cells produced in iron-limited and iron-supplemented media protected goldfish Carassius auratus when administered by immersion (dosage &asymp; 5 &times; 107 cells/mL for 60 s) followed after 28 d by an oral booster (dosage = 5 &times; 107 cells/g of feed), which was fed for 7 d so that each fish received about 1 g of vaccine-containing feed. After challenge by intramuscular injection of a virulent culture of atypical A. salmonicida, the relative percent survival (RPS) was more than 90%. The approach was more successful than using a commercial furunculosis vaccine with or without supplementation with A. bestiarum or atypical A. salmonicida cells. Moreover, a smooth derivative of the virulent rough culture of atypical A. salmonicida was less effective as a vaccine candidate, yielding an RPS of only 65%. Low antibody titers of 1:39&ndash;1:396 were found in the vaccinated fish. The vaccinated fish had a significantly higher proportion of dead head kidney macrophages (10.9 &plusmn; 3.5%; P = 0.0149) than did the controls (6.8 &plusmn; 3.1%). However, differences in the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes, the level of phagocytic and lysozyme activities, and the proportion of lymphocytes, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells were not statistically significant between the two groups

Changes in the indices of prooxidant and antioxidant systems in blood plasma in men with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer

Aim. To study changes in the indices of prooxidant and antioxidant systems in plasma in men with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. Materials and methods. The study included 60 healthy men, 42 patients with atrophic gastritis and 50 men, nicardipine patients with gastric cancer stage II according to TNM. All patients underwent serological diagnosis of diffuse atrophic gastritis (definition of pepsinogens and gastrin-17) and Helicobacter pylori infection. The diagnosis of "atrophic gastritis" was verified by morphological examination of biopsy specimens obtained during fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy. Diagnosis of gastric cancer was carried out in the Krasnoyarsk regional oncologic dispensary on the basis of a comprehensive instrumental and morphological examination. All patients spectrophotometric methods in plasma was determined the content of diene conjugates (DC), malonic dialdehyde (MDA), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Results. The concentration of SOD, GST, GPO and catalase had no significant differences in patients with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer and prevailed in comparison with healthy persons. Patients with cancer of the stomach content in the blood plasma DK 2.7 times and MDA at 35.2 times higher than healthy individuals, indicating severe oxidative stress in patients with cancer. In patients with atrophic gastritis was observed similar but less pronounced pattern. Conclusion. The results indicate the presence of oxidative stress in men with atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer

Otogenic Sinus Thrombosis and Hemophilia: A Clinical Case

Background. Patients with hemophilia are protected from thrombosis by a deficiency of one of coagulation factors, therefore thrombotic complications are rare in them. Currently, few descriptions of spontaneous venous thrombosis in adult hemophiliacs can be found in the literature. Even fewer data of thromboembolic complications are reported in pediatric practice. At present, no clear recommendations are given for the management of thrombotic complications in children with hemophilia, which requires further study of this issue to develop prevention and treatment regimens, including otogenic sinus thrombosis in this category of patients.Case description. A 7-year-old boy was transferred from the Somatic Hospital to the Intensive Care Unit of Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Tyumen (Russia) with an Otorhinolaryngology Unit. He was diagnosed with non-perforative form of acute right-sided suppurative otitis media, acute right-sided mastoiditis, thrombosis of the right sigmoid sinus. The anamnesis shows that the child is diagnosed with hemophilia A, of moderate severity (factor VIII level — 5%), for which he has been receiving factor VIII replacement therapy for the last year. Upon admission, a general blood test revealed no abnormalities, with a slight increase in acute-phase parameters: C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, signs of hypocoagulation. Due to negative dynamics, the child underwent anthromastoidotomy against the background of intensive replacement therapy. Surgery revealed the presence of granulation tissue with hemorrhagic thrombi in the antrum and aditus. In the postoperative period, replacement therapy was accompanied with antibacterial and anticoagulant therapy.Conclusion. The management of patients with otogenic sinus thrombosis against the background of hereditary factor VIII deficiency is a difficult task. On the one hand, it requires surgical intervention and anticoagulant therapy in order to prevent further thrombosis, on the other hand — intensive replacement therapy in order to reduce the risks of hemorrhagic complications. The described case demonstrates the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with otogenic thrombosis of lateral sinus against the background of hemophilia A. The approach is to minimize the risks of intraoperative complications and insure a favorable outcome

Typical relationships between the indexes of lipid peroxidation/ antioxidant protection and immune regulation in the patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer

Chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer represent distinct steps of one pathogenic process. The risk of developing cancer of the stomach is directly proportional to the degree of atrophic changes simultaneously detected in antral segment and in the body of the stomach. The role of immune system in transformation of precancerous diseases into cancer is beyond doubt. During development of the malignant disease, the changes in lipid peroxidation systems – antioxidant defense become significant and contribute to the progression of the tumor and the development of metastases. A simultaneous study of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense indices along with phagocytic activity will allow us to evaluate relative contribution of these processes to development of chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. Purpose of the present study was to assess correlations between the lipid peroxidation indices, i.e. antioxidant protection, and chemiluminescent activity of neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes in chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. Forty patients with chronic gastritis, 22 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and 40 patients with gastric cancer were examined. The control group consisted of 50 practically healthy age-matched volunteers. Evaluation of spontaneous and induced production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils and monocytes was carried out by chemiluminescent analysis. The parameters of lipid peroxidation/ antioxidant protection were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Statistical data processing was carried out using the Statistica v. 8.0 program (StatSoft Inc., USA). The normal distribution of indices was tested using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov method (adjusted by Lillefors). Quantitative indicators, given the normal distribution, were described using the median (Me) and interquartile scatter (Q0.25-Q0.75). To study statistical significance of differences between quantitative characteristics, the Mann–Whitney test was used. To study strength of relationships of these indicators, the Pearson rank correlation coefficient (r) was calculated. The critical significance level (p) when testing statistical hypotheses was taken equal to 0.05. Correlation analysis showed that the weight of positive correlations increases in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, and it decreases in patients with gastric cancer, the strength of the correlation dependence and new relationships appear between chemiluminescent activity of neutrophils and monocytes in a spontaneous and induced state, and the amounts of malonic dialdehyde, enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. In chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer we have established the features of correlation patterns between lipid peroxidation/antioxidant protection indices, and activity of neutrophils and monocytes