RECENT ADVANCES IN NEUROSURGICAL INTERVENTION FOR SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in those aged under 40 years. Therefore, research in this area of neurosurgery is highly relevant. The review presents insights on current trends in TBI neurosurgery, emphasising severe forms management. Literature review of English and Russian language peer-reviewed publications relating to various forms of TBI showed three main research areas: 1) evolution of surgical techniques with the development toward minimally invasive approaches with equipment and materials modification/development; 2) search for reliable assessment tools to predict the patient's condition in the early and remote postoperative periods; 3) evaluation of the effectiveness of multimodal approaches for diagnosing brain patholog

Detection of markers of hepatitis B and D virus infection in biological media and dried blood spots

The aim of this study was to assess the rates of detection of the major markers of infection with hepatitis B and Delta (D) viruses in serum, saliva and dry blood dots (DBS) as a possible option for serological studies among the population of the endemic region in conditions of limited laboratory resources. For this purpose, paired samples of blood serum and DBS, blood serum and saliva from patients with chronic hepatitis B with Delta agent living in the Republic of Tyva, which is endemic for this disease. HBsAg was detected in 289 (100%) serum samples, in 88/92 (95.7%) saliva samples, in 60/80 (75%) DBS samples, stored three years at room temperature, and in 111/117 (94.9%) DBS stored one year at the same conditions. Anti-HBcore was detected in 209 (100%) serum samples, while in saliva and DBS samples this marker was detected in only 13.04% (12/92) and 19.7% (23/117), respectively. Anti-HDV antibodies in serum were detected in 209 (100%) samples collected from patients in 2017-2018. In saliva and DBS anti-HDV were not detected in any sample. This difference in the detection rates of anti-HBcore and anti-HDV might be accounted for the fact that the HBV core protein is a very strong immunogen, indusing the production of anti-HBcore in high concentrations. Probably, the concentration of anti-HDV is much lower, which explains its absence in saliva and DBS in patients with hepatitis B+D. Samples of biological media (saliva), as well as DBS can serve as an alternative material for the detection of HBsAg in screening and research prevalence studies. Meanwhile, the definition of anti-HDV in such media is not possible due to the false negative results. Due to the high probability of superinfection with HDV in patients with HBV in endemic areas, the detection of HBsAg in alternative media (saliva or DBS) should be followed by testing for anti-HDV in serum samples

Airborne particulate matters and microorganisms in library: An introduction of disinfection method towards safe and health indoor environment

Laboratory usually refers to a room or building equipped with chemicals and biological agents for scientific experimentation and research. Due to its own indoor hazards and its cause of health implications, it is an urge to assess and to understand the physical indoor air quality (IAQ) characteristics in the laboratory and the variables affecting the degree of exposure to occupants. The main objectives of this study was aimed to assess and to compare the physical IAQ characteristics and airborne pollutants including particulate matters (PM) and gaseous pollutants between laboratories, to identify microbial contaminants via bacterial counts as well as scientific bacterial-kits species identification and to correlate the relationship of physical IAQ characteristics, airborne pollutants and microbial contaminants between different laboratory settings within the same building which are Natural Product (NP) laboratory, Plant Tissue Culture (PTC) laboratory, and Microbiology laboratory. The physical IAQ characteristics and airborne PM was measured using VelociCalc multi-function ventilation meter 9565 and DustMate environmental dust detector respectively. Surface Air System Indoor Air Quality (SAS IAQ) was used to capture the microbial contaminants and after that bacterial counting and identification were done. The scientific method protocol and standard reference limits were compared based on Industrial Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (ICOP) (2010) regulated by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). The temperature of PTC laboratory, velocity of NP laboratory and Microbiology laboratory, the respirable particulate matter (PM) of all three laboratories and Colony Forming Unit (CFU) count of PTC and NP laboratory exceeded the standard limit regulated by DOSH. This study demonstrated that Gemella morbillorum is the common bacterial species available in the environment with poor IAQ and there is a significant relationship between physical characteristics, airborne pollutants and microbial contaminants between the different types of laboratory settings. In conclusion, priority should be given to NP laboratory as it is exposed to poor IAQ conditions and immediate action should be taken to eliminate the problems. Keywords: Indoor air quality (IAQ), laboratory, airborne pollutants, particulate matter (PM), microbes, CF

Вирусные гепатиты: прогнозы и проблемы

The problem of viral hepatitis is close to its solution. In 2016 WHO Global Health Sector Strategy for Viral Hepatitis for 2016-2021 has set the task for hepatitis control and elimination, and identified how to address it. The development of such a program has become possible due to the obtained fundamental knowledge about the nature of viral hepatitis, which allows to achieve this ambitious goal. Undoubtedly, the implementation of a program to control viral hepatitis in Russia, based on modern scientific knowledge and the realities of the epidemic process, will make it possible to solve the problem of controlling these diseases. However, new problems arise on this path. This publication addresses some of the current issues, in conjunction with own data. These problems may include: the possibility of the wide spread of hepatitis A virus among certain populations (hepatitis A outbreak in the USA in 2017-2018); the interspecies transmission of HEV from animals to humans; problems encountered in the implementation of the program for mass vaccination against HBV («Vaccine audit»); the history and characteristics of the circulation of the hepatitis D virus in various territories; distribution of circulating forms of the hepatitis C virus with drug resistance to direct-acting drugs (interferon-free therapy). New knowledge on the above mentioned issues are crucial for the successful implementation of the program for the control of viral hepatitis.Проблема вирусных гепатитов близка к решению. Принятая ВОЗ в 2016 г. «Глобальная стратегия сектора здравоохранения по вирусному гепатиту на 2016-2021 гг.» поставила задачу и определила пути её решения. Разработка такой программы стала возможной благодаря полученным новым фундаментальным знаниям о природе вирусных гепатитов. Реализация программы по контролю за вирусными гепатитами в России, основанная на современных научных знаниях и реалиях эпидемического процесса, позволит решить задачу по контролю над этими заболеваниями. В статье рассматриваются некоторые актуальные вопросы, связанные с вирусными гепатитами: возможность широкого распространения вируса гепатита А среди отдельных групп населения (вспышка гепатита А в США в 2017-2018 гг.); межвидовой переход вируса гепатита Е от животных человеку; сложности, возникшие при реализации программ массовой вакцинации против гепатита В («вакцинный аудит»); история и особенности циркуляции вируса гепатита D на различных территориях; распространение циркулирующих форм вируса гепатита С, обладающих лекарственной резистентностью к препаратам прямого действия (безинтерфероновая терапия). Получение новых знаний по этим проблемам необходимо для успешной реализации программы по контролю за вирусными гепатитами

Recent developments in the ABINIT software package

ABINIT is a package whose main program allows one to find the total energy, charge density, electronic structure and many other properties of systems made of electrons and nuclei, (molecules and periodic solids) within Density Functional Theory (DFT), Many-Body Perturbation Theory (GW approximation and Bethe–Salpeter equation) and Dynamical Mean Field Theory (DMFT). ABINIT also allows to optimize the geometry according to the DFT forces and stresses, to perform molecular dynamics simulations using these forces, and to generate dynamical matrices, Born effective charges and dielectric tensors. The present paper aims to describe the new capabilities of ABINIT that have been developed since 2009. It covers both physical and technical developments inside the ABINIT code, as well as developments provided within the ABINIT package. The developments are described with relevant references, input variables, tests and tutorials