Obesity and covid-19 — signs of convergence of two pandemiсs. Guidelines to fight obesity based on the principles of «ROOTS»

The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging problem of the present. Another essential problem causing serious health consequences is the global obesity epidemy. Our article notes the importance of studying the combinations and correlations of mentioned pandemic processes. We analyzed scientific reports of co-presence of obesity, diabetes and coronavirus infection. According to the analyzed data combination of COVID-19 with obesity and diabetes leads to the higher rate of the hospitalisation. These patients more often required the transfer to the intensive care unit and artificial lung ventilation. Our review contains scientific observations of the first reported cases of higher mortality rate of obese and diabetic patients during the period of previous influenza pandemics (including H1N1). The results of the 2020 year shows that the outcomes of coronavirus infection with underlying obesity much more threatening and harmfull. In our article, we present the correlation of the average body mass and mortality rate index in different countries (according to the WHO and the World Obesity Federation). Comparative results in the Central Asia countries are given as well. The paper analyzes the suggestions for obesity policy and advocacy provided by World Obesity Federation in “ROOTS: A framework for action”. The conclusions marks the importance of implementing the proposed measures against obesity during a pandemic and in the post-COVID era

Modern scaffolding strategies based on naturally pre-fabricated 3D biomaterials of poriferan origin

Modern scaffolding strategies include two key ways: to produce requested 3D constructs from corresponding precursors using technological tools, or simply use naturally already pre-fabricated scaffolds if they originate from renewable sources. Marine sponges inhabit oceans since the Precambrian. These ancient multicellular organisms possess a broad variety of evolutionary approved and ready to use skeletal structures, which seem to be well applicable as 3D scaffolds in diverse fields of modern bioinspired materials science, biomimetics and regenerative medicine. In this review, most attention is paid to biosilica-, chitin-, and spongin-based scaffolds of poriferan origin with respect to their potential use. © 2020, The Author(s).Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG: HE 394–3Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego, MNiSW: 0912/SBAD/2006PPN/BEK/2018/1/00071Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFGSächsisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, SMWK: 02010311This work was financially supported by German Research Foundation (DFG) grant HE 394–3, SMWK Project 02010311 (Germany) and subsidy from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Poland to PUT (no. 0912/SBAD/2006). M.W. is thankful for financial support from Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (PPN/BEK/2018/1/00071)

Железные дороги как инструмент геополитики Второй мировой войны

The article deals with geopolitical theories of K. Haushofer and H. Mackinder and place of railways in them, with a number of railway projects of the Second World War in Europe and Asia, the role of rail routes in the plans of belligerents, logistic support of front-line operations, as well as in the Allied victory over the powers of the «axis». The author draws a conclusion on railway transport mission in terms of geopolitics, state strategy and military logistics.В статье затронуты геополитические теории К. Хаусхофера и X. Маккиндера и место в них железных дорог, ряд железнодорожных проектов периода Второй мировой войны в Европе и Азии, роль рельсовых магистралей в планах воюющих сторон, ведении и тыловом обеспечении фронтовых действий, а также победе союзников над державами «оси». Сделан вывод о выпавшей на долю железнодорожного транспорта миссии с точки зрения геополитики, государственной стратегии и военной логистики

Determination of vascular endothelial growth factor concentration in serum of patients with varicose veins after conventional phlebectomy and hybrid treatment

Objective. To study the change of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level and the incidence of recurrence of varicose veins after conventional phlebectomy and hybrid treatment. Materials and methods. Conventional phlebectomy was performed according to standard technique. Hybrid treatment consisted of combination of methods, including laser ablation, ultrasound guided foam form sclerotherapy (aethoxysklerol 1-3%), high degree of ligation (HL), total or partial stripping of saphenous vein. The treatment was personalized to every patient. This study included 134 patients, that were divided into two groups, depending on the method of treatment. Serum samples were collected from patients before operation and in 3-12 months after operation. Control group included 20 healthy persons. We analyzed mean concentration and change of the VEGF levels in patients’ serum before and after treatment. Results. Mean levels of VEGF decreased in 3.95 – 5.38 times after the treatment. Also, recurrent cases were estimated. In the case of the recurrence, VEGF levels were higher than in non-recurrent cases. Conclusions. Therefore, results of the study suggest an association between the recurrence of varicose veins and the change of VEGF level

Polarization reversal induced by heating-cooling cycles in MgO doped lithium niobate crystals

Polarization reversal during heating-cooling cycles was investigated in MgO doped lithium niobate (MgO:LN) crystal using piezoresponse force microscopy. The essential dependence of the domain structure evolution scenario on the maximal temperature in the cycle has been revealed experimentally. It has been shown that the heating of the engineered domain matrix from room temperature to 85 °C leads to light size reduction of the isolated domains at the matrix edges, whereas the heating to 170 °C leads to essential reduction of the domain size. The opposite strong effect of the domain formation and growth during cooling after pulse heating have been revealed in single domain MgO:LN. The simulation of the time dependence of the pyroelectric field during heating-cooling cycle allowed to reveal the temperature hysteresis and to explain all observed effects taking into account the temperature dependence of the bulk conductivity. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC

Ethical and Legal Issues of Interaction between a Defence Lawyer and a Prosecutor during the Criminal Trial

The institutions of the prosecution and defence are recognised as equitable related institutions that facilitate the activities of the judiciary. The consolidation of the new status of the institution of defence in the judicial system necessitates the study of new forms of communication between the defence and the court, the principles of such interaction, including the consideration of international standards and European experience. The novelty of the study is determined by the fact that interaction between a defence lawyer and a prosecutor can only be within the framework of a court session and any exchange of information can be performed only if full publicity is achieved in the process of interaction between a defence lawyer and a prosecutor. The authors show that interaction is carried out through a judge and is completely personalised. Accordingly, the interaction should be implemented to influence the judge in the process of forming and passing an appropriate judgement. The authors determine that the such a judgement can be formed in the course of communication and the provision of certain arguments that a defence lawyer cannot communicate in advance and which can only be voiced during a court session. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of innovating the activities of a defence lawyer and increasing the appropriate level of perception on the part of the judge and, accordingly, the prosecutor as representatives of the institutions of justice

Dormant non-culturable Mycobacterium tuberculosis retains stable low-abundant mRNA

BACKGROUND: Dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli are believed to play an important role in latent tuberculosis infection. Previously, we have demonstrated that cultivation of M. tuberculosis in K(+)-deficient medium resulted in generation of dormant cells. These bacilli were non-culturable on solid media (a key feature of dormant M. tuberculosis in vivo) and characterized by low metabolism and tolerance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. The dormant bacteria demonstrated a high potential to reactivation after K(+) reintroduction even after prolonged persistence under rifampicin. In this work, we studied the transcriptome and stability of transcripts in persisting dormant bacilli under arrest of mRNA de novo synthesis. RESULTS: RNA-seq-based analysis of the dormant non-culturable population obtained under rifampicin exposure revealed a 30–50-fold decrease of the total mRNA level, indicating global transcriptional repression. However, the analysis of persisting transcripts displayed a cohort of mRNA molecules coding for biosynthetic enzymes, proteins involved in adaptation and repair processes, detoxification, and control of transcription initiation. This ‘dormant transcriptome’ demonstrated considerable stability during M. tuberculosis persistence and mRNA de novo synthesis arrest. On the contrary, several small non-coding RNAs showed increased abundance on dormancy. Interestingly, M. tuberculosis entry into dormancy was accompanied by the cleavage of 23S ribosomal RNA at a specific point located outside the ribosome catalytic center. CONCLUSIONS: Dormant non-culturable M. tuberculosis bacilli are characterized by a global transcriptional repression. At the same time, the dormant bacilli retain low-abundant mRNAs, which are considerably stable during in vitro persistence, reflecting their readiness for translation upon early resuscitation steps. Increased abundance of non-coding RNAs on dormancy may indicate their role in the entry into and maintenance of M. tuberculosis dormant non-culturable state. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2197-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users