Renal Lymph Oxygen Tension During Graded Renal Ischemia

Renal lymph oxygen tension in dogs during graded renal ischemi

The use of nitinol rods in stabilization of the lumbar spine for patients under 21 years

The outcomes of surgical treatment of 25 young patients with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine in two groups were compared in patients with nitinol rods (dynamic stabilization) without spondylodesis and with rigid lumbar fixation of titanium rods. Men - 12, women - 13, the average age is 17.6 years (from 16 to 21 years). These patients are divided into 2 groups depending on the stabilization method. Clinical and radiological results were monitored at least 1 year after the operation. In our study we used nitinol rods of 2 standard sizes - 60 and 80 mm. The size and curvature of the bending of the rods is calculated from the average anatomical parameters characteristic of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral junction. In all groups, there were no statistically significant differences in preoperative values and in the control periods of observation of the VAS (for both the back and the lower limb), Oswestry and SF-36 between patients with nitinol and titanium rods (p> 0.05). In both cases (rigid and dynamic stabilization), statistically significant changes were noted in the postoperative period (p <0.01). In both groups, in comparison with preoperative values, improvement was observed in all control periods, which were highly statistically significant (p <0.01). When studying the mobility in stabilized segment with dynamic nitinol rods, it is determined that the mobility, which persists in 1 segment, averages 4.8°. This index is within the limits of measurement error (up to 5°), however, when measuring mobility in two segments, the mobility is 9.6°. Transpedicular fixation of the lumbosacral spine with the use of nitinol rods is an effective technology that allows to keep movements in the lumbosacral spine in combination with a stable fixation. Further study of this technology should continue, including with reference to deformations of the spine

Pathomorphological changes in pulmonary vessels at different terms of lethal outcomes of patients with COVID-19

Objective: to study the pathomorphological changes in the vessels of the lungs at different times of death in patients with COVID-19. Material and methods: autopsy protocols of 40 deaths from COVID-19 with histological, histochemical examination, and photoregistration. To determine the degree of pulmonary vascular lesions, the authors developed and applied a semi-quantitative assessment scale for the sign based on counting the affected lung vessels in 10 fields of view, expressed as a percentage: no sign – (0%), weak sign + (1-25%), moderate sign ++ (26-50%), expressed sign +++ (51-75%), highly expressed sign ++++ (76-100%). Results: during the first 14 days of the disease, stasis and swelling of individual endotheliocytes were noted in the vessels of the microvasculature. After 15-21 days of the development of COVID-19, signs of alterations in endothelial cells and microthrombosis were observed in microvessels. After 22-28 days of the disease, the phenomena of repair and hyperplasia of endothelial cells were detected. At different times of the development of the disease in the lung tissue, the phenomena of acute respiratory distress syndrome, interstitial pneumonia, and focal pneumofibrosis were observed. Conclusions: the authors believe that COVID-19 is associated with a progressive microvascular endotheliopathy in the lungs which is characterized by swelling, alteration, and later, by hyperplasia, and regeneration of endothelial cells in combination with microthrombosis. Destructive changes in the walls of the microvessels of the lungs have superficial character without the destruction of the reticular frame and basal membranes. Endotheliopathy, microthrombus formation of microvessels of the lungs, and interstitial pneumonia create a vicious circle of severe respiratory failure, which must be taken into account in the clinic to correct the treatment of patients with COVID-19

Extraribosomal functions associated with the C terminus of the 37/67 kDa laminin receptor are required for maintaining cell viability

The 37/67 kDa laminin receptor (LAMR) is a multifunctional protein, acting as an extracellular receptor, localizing to the nucleus, and playing roles in rRNA processing and ribosome assembly. LAMR is important for cell viability; however, it is unclear which of its functions are essential. We developed a silent mutant LAMR construct, resistant to siRNA, to rescue the phenotypic effects of knocking down endogenous LAMR, which include inhibition of protein synthesis, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. In addition, we generated a C-terminal-truncated silent mutant LAMR construct structurally homologous to the Archaeoglobus fulgidus S2 ribosomal protein and missing the C-terminal 75 residues of LAMR, which displays more sequence divergence. We found that HT1080 cells stably expressing either silent mutant LAMR construct still undergo arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle when treated with siRNA. However, the expression of full-length silent mutant LAMR rescues cell viability, whereas the expression of the C-terminal-truncated LAMR does not. Interestingly, we also found that both silent mutant constructs restore protein translation and localize to the nucleus. Our findings indicate that the ability of LAMR to regulate viability is associated with its C-terminal 75 residues. Furthermore, this function is distinct from its role in cell proliferation, independent of its ribosomal functions, and may be regulated by a nonnuclear localization

Secukinumab, an Interleukin-17A Inhibitor, in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Background Secukinumab is an anti–interleukin-17A monoclonal antibody that has been shown to control the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis in a phase 2 trial. We conducted two phase 3 trials of secukinumab in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis. Methods In two double-blind trials, we randomly assigned patients to receive secukinumab or placebo. In MEASURE 1, a total of 371 patients received intravenous secukinumab (10 mg per kilogram of body weight) or matched placebo at weeks 0, 2, and 4, followed by subcutaneous secukinumab (150 mg or 75 mg) or matched placebo every 4 weeks starting at week 8. In MEASURE 2, a total of 219 patients received subcutaneous secukinumab (150 mg or 75 mg) or matched placebo at baseline; at weeks 1, 2, and 3; and every 4 weeks starting at week 4. At week 16, patients in the placebo group were randomly reassigned to subcutaneous secukinumab at a dose of 150 mg or 75 mg. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with at least 20% improvement in Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS20) response criteria at week 16. Results In MEASURE 1, the ASAS20 response rates at week 16 were 61%, 60%, and 29% for subcutaneous secukinumab at doses of 150 mg and 75 mg and for placebo, respectively (P<0.001 for both comparisons with placebo); in MEASURE 2, the rates were 61%, 41%, and 28% for subcutaneous secukinumab at doses of 150 mg and 75 mg and for placebo, respectively (P<0.001 for the 150-mg dose and P=0.10 for the 75-mg dose). The significant improvements were sustained through 52 weeks. Infections, including candidiasis, were more common with secukinumab than with placebo during the placebo-controlled period of MEASURE 1. During the entire treatment period, pooled exposure-adjusted incidence rates of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, candida infections, and Crohn’s disease were 0.7, 0.9, and 0.7 cases per 100 patient-years, respectively, in secukinumab-treated patients. Conclusions Secukinumab at a subcutaneous dose of 150 mg, with either subcutaneous or intravenous loading, provided significant reductions in the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis at week 16. Secukinumab at a subcutaneous dose of 75 mg resulted in significant improvement only with a higher intravenous loading dose. (Funded by Novartis Pharma; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01358175 and NCT01649375.

Early intervention in Moscow preschool education system: shift from rapid growth to quality improvement in preschool early intervention programs in Moscow

Early intervention services and lekoteks in Moscow preschool education system are aimed to help children from several months to 7 years of age with developmental disorders and their parents. The number of such programs reached 200 in 2012 and was growing faster than the number of professionals skilled to work at them. This obvious mismatch situation emerged the need for quality assessment and structured educational programs for specialist initial education and recertification. In this article we discuss the most commonly used protocols in early intervention programs, and current trends in their improvement. We also propose a model for quality standard development in early intervention services and lekoteks, based on worldwide experience and ISO (ISO 9001:2000) quality management principles

Functionality and basic capabilities of preschool children with Down syndrome and Autism spectrum disorders

We have examined and compared the status of functionality and basic capabilities (gross and fine motor, visual and auditory basic skills, basic capabilities to interaction, communication and education) of preschoolers with Down syndrome (21 children, age 69 ± 20 months) and Autism spectrum disorders (21 children, age 61 ± 14 months) with the questionnaires F-07 and "Basic capabilities ". Have been revealed the expressed variability of the level of functionality and reduced patterns of the basic capabilities for both groups of children. Have been demonstrated a significant strong positive connections between the levels of functionality and basic capabilities, except for the motor capabilities, in both groups. The reduction structures of the basic capabilities of the children with Down syndrome and Autism spectrum disorders were found to be different: first were more successful in vision, hearing, the interaction and communication, and second in a fine motor skills