Strontium Substituted Tricalcium Phosphate Bone Cement: Short and Long‐Term Time‐Resolved Studies and In Vitro Properties

Due to a significant influence of strontium (Sr) on bone regeneration, Sr substituted beta-tricalcium phosphate (Sr-TCP) cement is prepared and investigated by short- and long-term time-resolved techniques. For short-term investigations, energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and, for the first time, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy techniques are applied. For long-term time-resolved studies, angular dispersive X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical tests, and behavior in Ringer solution are carried out. After 45 min of the cement setting, the Sr-TCP phase is no longer detectable. During this time period, an appearance and constant increase of the final brushite phase are registered. The compressive strength of the Sr-TCP cement increases from 4.5 MPa after 2 h of setting and reaches maximum at 13.3 MPa after 21 d. After cement soaking for 21 d in Ringer solution, apatite final product, with an admixture of brushite and TCP phases is detected. The cytotoxicity aspects of the prepared cement are investigated using NCTC 3T3 fibroblast cell line, and the cytocompatibility-by human dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells. The obtained results allow to conclude that the developed Sr-TCP cement is promising for biomedical applications for bone tissue

Genome-wide sequence analyses of ethnic populations across Russia

The Russian Federation is the largest and one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, however no centralized reference database of genetic variation exists to date. Such data are crucial for medical genetics and essential for studying population history. The Genome Russia Project aims at filling this gap by performing whole genome sequencing and analysis of peoples of the Russian Federation. Here we report the characterization of genome-wide variation of 264 healthy adults, including 60 newly sequenced samples. People of Russia carry known and novel genetic variants of adaptive, clinical and functional consequence that in many cases show allele frequency divergence from neighboring populations. Population genetics analyses revealed six phylogeographic partitions among indigenous ethnicities corresponding to their geographic locales. This study presents a characterization of population-specific genomic variation in Russia with results important for medical genetics and for understanding the dynamic population history of the world's largest country

Superoxide Dismutase 1 Nanozyme for Treatment of Eye Inflammation

Use of antioxidants to mitigate oxidative stress during ocular inflammatory diseases has shown therapeutic potential. This work examines a nanoscale therapeutic modality for the eye on the base of antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), termed “nanozyme.” The nanozyme is produced by electrostatic coupling of the SOD1 with a cationic block copolymer, poly(L-lysine)-poly(ethyleneglycol), followed by covalent cross-linking of the complexes with 3,3′-dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidylpropionate) sodium salt. The ability of SOD1 nanozyme as well as the native SOD1 to reduce inflammatory processes in the eye was examined in vivo in rabbits with immunogenic uveitis. Results suggested that topical instillations of both enzyme forms demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity; however, the nanozyme was much more effective compared to the free enzyme in decreasing uveitis manifestations. In particular, we noted statistically significant differences in such inflammatory signs in the eye as the intensities of corneal and iris edema, hyperemia of conjunctiva, lens opacity, fibrin clots, and the protein content in aqueous humor. Clinical findings were confirmed by histological data. Thus, SOD1-containing nanozyme is potentially useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of ocular inflammatory disorders

Early mobilisation in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a subanalysis of the ESICM-initiated UNITE-COVID observational study

Background Early mobilisation (EM) is an intervention that may improve the outcome of critically ill patients. There is limited data on EM in COVID-19 patients and its use during the first pandemic wave. Methods This is a pre-planned subanalysis of the ESICM UNITE-COVID, an international multicenter observational study involving critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. We analysed variables associated with the initiation of EM (within 72 h of ICU admission) and explored the impact of EM on mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, as well as discharge location. Statistical analyses were done using (generalised) linear mixed-effect models and ANOVAs. Results Mobilisation data from 4190 patients from 280 ICUs in 45 countries were analysed. 1114 (26.6%) of these patients received mobilisation within 72 h after ICU admission; 3076 (73.4%) did not. In our analysis of factors associated with EM, mechanical ventilation at admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.25, 0.35; p = 0.001), higher age (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00; p ≤ 0.001), pre-existing asthma (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.98; p = 0.028), and pre-existing kidney disease (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71, 0.99; p = 0.036) were negatively associated with the initiation of EM. EM was associated with a higher chance of being discharged home (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.58; p = 0.007) but was not associated with length of stay in ICU (adj. difference 0.91 days; 95% CI − 0.47, 1.37, p = 0.34) and hospital (adj. difference 1.4 days; 95% CI − 0.62, 2.35, p = 0.24) or mortality (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.7, 1.09, p = 0.24) when adjusted for covariates. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that a quarter of COVID-19 patients received EM. There was no association found between EM in COVID-19 patients' ICU and hospital length of stay or mortality. However, EM in COVID-19 patients was associated with increased odds of being discharged home rather than to a care facility. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04836065 (retrospectively registered April 8th 2021)

Media space of the modern school

What should be the media of a modern education institution? How is the educational organization supposed to be represented in social media? What methods of increasing the level of media literacy of teachers and students should optimally use?As the purpose of this study the authors can see in the development and presentation of an optimal model of media space for modern educational institutions which will take into account not only the changes in the education process, but also the needs of the modern audience – teachers, students, parents, and educational partners. The resources of “Moscow e-school” become part of the educational media sphere of modern educational organizations.Resources and methods: resources of an educational institution, namely, social media, blogs and microblogs, users’ accounts, channels, educational platforms, which present the work of educators. The importance of analyzing media of the modern educational institution is that media-education serves as a pedagogical system, allowing the use of modern techniques and technologies through the development of critical thinking, which occurs under the influence of information flows. In this regard, there is a need for the comprehensive approach to the media organization in the modern school. An integral element of the complex approach is the creation of conditions for the development of media literacy for teachers and learners.The result of this research is the optimal model of media space for the modern school, which includes social networking profiles, microblogging, blogs, users’ accounts, and web resources, each of which has its own purpose and functional features.As a conclusion we can note that one of the core values of the media model is the development of creative and critical thinking, the acquisition of experience and tools of media, independent search, the ability to use information flows for the effective communication, solving educational and cognitive, other personal problems and tasks, i.e. the orientation is not so much on the knowledge as on the acquisition of positive experience of the independent work

Digitalization in the field of music education: assessment of prospects

Preconditions of the research: in the course of implementation of federal program of digitalization of all areas of life, the digital format has been applied for education of musicians in higher schools. In this regard, the research objective is assessment of digitalization results of modern departments of music in Moscow universities (RSSU, MPGU), determination of prospects and issues of this process. The research was based on common methods of analysis: system analysis, instrumental and functional approaches, dialectic and comparative analysis, as well as sociological and statistic methods. Results: it is possible to conclude that in Russia digitalization of higher music education leads to improvement of its quality in total; provides higher level of mastering programs by students, expansion of range of acquired competences and opportunities to obtain high-quality education by broader range of people. Herewith, digitalization does not deprive art education of its inherently individualistic and practice-oriented approaches (individual lessons, independent creative work, rehearsals, etc.). The novelty of the work is comprised of substantiation of efficiency of digital educational environment in universities and departments of music, which is a promising approach promoting development of higher education in Russia and allowing to achieve qualitatively new level of music pedagogics. The practical significance of the work is in disclosure of problems of music education digitalization

Key Aspects of Nucleic Acid Library Design for in Vitro Selection

Nucleic acid aptamers capable of selectively recognizing their target molecules have nowadays been established as powerful and tunable tools for biospecific applications, be it therapeutics, drug delivery systems or biosensors. It is now generally acknowledged that in vitro selection enables one to generate aptamers to almost any target of interest. However, the success of selection and the affinity of the resulting aptamers depend to a large extent on the nature and design of an initial random nucleic acid library. In this review, we summarize and discuss the most important features of the design of nucleic acid libraries for in vitro selection such as the nature of the library (DNA, RNA or modified nucleotides), the length of a randomized region and the presence of fixed sequences. We also compare and contrast different randomization strategies and consider computer methods of library design and some other aspects

Liposomal Form of the Echinochrome-Carrageenan Complex

Inclusion of drugs in liposomes offers the potential for localized and sustained delivery to mucosal surfaces. The inclusion of the carrageenan matrix with echinochrome A ((Ech)—the active substance of the drug Histochrome) in liposomes was studied. According to the spectral characteristics, Ech was not oxidized and retained stability after encapsulation in the liposomes and the lyophilization process. Loading the liposomes with negatively charged polysaccharide results in the increase in the zeta potential to more negative values (from −14.6 to −24.4 mV), that together with an increasing in the sizes of liposomes (from 125.6 ± 2.5 nm to 159.3 ± 5.8 nm) propose of the formation of the polymer coating on liposomes. The interactions of liposomes with porcine stomach mucin was determined by the DLS and SEM methods. The changes in the zeta-potential and size of the mucin particles were observed as the result of the interaction of liposomes with mucin. To evaluate the mucoadhesive properties of liposomes and the penetration of Ech in the mucosa, a fresh-frozen inner surface of the small intestine of a pig as a model of mucous tissue was used. Polysaccharide-coated liposomes exhibit very good mucoadhesive properties −50% of Ech remains on the mucosa

Prospective Study of a Cohort of Russian Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome Patients Demonstrating Predictive Value of Low Kappa-Deleting Recombination Excision Circle (KREC) Numbers and Beneficial Effect of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)

BackgroundNijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a combined primary immunodeficiency with DNA repair defect, microcephaly, and other phenotypical features. It predominantly occurs in Slavic populations that have a high frequency of carriers with the causative NBN gene c.657_661del5 mutation. Due to the rarity of the disease in the rest of the world, studies of NBS patients are few. Here, we report a prospective study of a cohort of Russian NBS patients.Methods35 Russian NBS patients of ages 1–19 years, referred to our Center between years 2012 and 2016, were prospectively studied.ResultsDespite the fact that in 80% of the patients microcephaly was diagnosed at birth or shortly thereafter, the average delay of NBS diagnosis was 6.5 years. Though 80% of the patients had laboratory signs of immunodeficiency, only 51% of the patients experienced significant infections. Autoimmune complications including interstitial lymphocytic lung disease and skin granulomas were noted in 34%, malignancies—in 57% of the patients. T-cell excision circle (TREC)/kappa-deleting recombination excision circle (KREC) levels were low in the majority of patients studied. Lower KREC levels correlated with autoimmune and oncological complications. Fifteen patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 10 of them were alive and well, with good graft function. Three patients in the HSCT group and five non-transplanted patients died; tumor progression being the main cause of death. The probability of the overall survival since NBS diagnosis was 0.76 in the HSCT group and 0.3 in the non-transplanted group.ConclusionBased on our findings of low TRECs in most NBS patients, independent of their age, TREC detection can be potentially useful for detection of NBS patients during neonatal screening. KREC concentration can be used as a prognostic marker of disease severity. HSCT is a viable treatment option in NBS and should be especially considered in patients with low KREC numbers early on, before development of life-threatening complications