Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutation is associated with reduced levels of inflammation in glioma patients

Raushan Auezova,1 Natalia Ivanova,2 Serik Akshulakov,1 Berik Zhetpisbaev,1 Aizhan Kozhakhmetova,1 Nurzhan Ryskeldiyev,1 Khalit Mustafin,1 Daniyar Teltayev,1 Lizette Auezova31Department of Pathology of the Central Nervous System, National Center for Neurosurgery, Astana, Kazakhstan; 2Scientific Department, Polenov Russian Scientific Research Institute of Neurosurgery (a branch of Federal Almazov North-West Medical Research Center), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; 3Bioactive Molecules Research Group, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences-II, Lebanese University, Beirut, LebanonBackground: Glioma patients with mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase have improved survival; this could be in part due to the suppressive effect of mutant IDH on the level of chronic inflammation. This study aimed to prospectively analyze the association of IDH1 mutation status with preoperative levels of blood inflammatory markers: neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and red cell distribution width (RDW) in gliomas.Patients and methods: Receiver operating characteristic curves for cutoff value determination, various bivariate tests, and survival analyses (Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression) were performed.Results: Patients with mutant IDH1 had reduced levels of NLR (P<0.032) and CRP (P<0.008). Moreover, these patients showed better median overall survival compared to those without IDH1 mutation (P<0.000). In univariate analysis, IDH1 mutation status (P<0.000), NLR (P<0.000), PLR (P<0.008), and CRP (P<0.001) were among the factors associated with survival. By multivariate analysis, IDH1 mutation (P<0.044) and NLRP<0.022) remained independent factors associated with better survival; other independent variables were tumor grade (P<0.000) and location in noneloquent area (P<0.015).Conclusion: The obtained results show that IDH1 mutation is associated with lower levels of chronic inflammation that could account for an improved prognosis in this group of patients.Keywords: glioma, IDH, inflammation, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, surviva

Association of preoperative levels of selected blood inflammatory markers with prognosis in gliomas

Raushan Auezova,1 Nurzhan Ryskeldiev,1 Aidos Doskaliyev,1 Yerbol Kuanyshev,1 Berik Zhetpisbaev,1 Nurgul Aldiyarova,1 Natalia Ivanova,2 Serik Akshulakov,1 Lizette Auezova3 1Department of Pathology of the Central Nervous System, National Centre for Neurosurgery, Astana, Kazakhstan; 2Polenov Russian Scientific Research Institute of Neurosurgery (a branch of Federal Almazov North-West Medical Research Centre), Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; 3Bioactive Molecules Research Group, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences-II, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet count (PLT) routinely tested as part of the complete blood count are indicative of systemic inflammation. The prognostic significance of NLR and PLT in cancer was demonstrated in many studies while the role of RDW has been hardly investigated. The present study aimed to assess the association of RDW, NLR, and PLT with survival and tumor grade in glioma patients. Methods: Clinical data from 178 patients with primary gliomas treated in a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves for cutoff value determination, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, various bivariate tests, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Results: Patients with high RDW (≥13.95) and NLR (≥4) levels had worse overall survival (OS) (Wilcoxon test, P<0.026 and P<0.003, respectively) while the effect of thrombocytosis (≥400×109/L) on prognosis was not significant. Besides, a strong association between RDW and NLR was found (Spearman’s rho =0.230, P<0.02; χ2=8.887, P<0.03; Mann–Whitney U-test, P<0.017). Moreover, RDW and NLR were significantly associated with tumor grade. In univariate Cox analysis, elevated NLR (hazard ratio, HR 1.385; confidence interval, CI 1.020–1.881, P<0.037), older age (HR 0.452, CI 0.329–0.621, P<0), and higher tumor grade (HR 1.624, CI 1.187–2.223, P<0.002) were associated with poor outcomes. In the multivariate analysis, tumor grade, age, and Karnofsky performance score were identified as being independently prognostic for OS. Conclusion: Preoperative NLR and RDW values can help to evaluate disease progression and outcomes in patients with gliomas, thereby contributing to patient follow-up optimization. Keywords: glioma, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, platelet, red cell distribution width, survival, tumor grad

Intelligent systems technologies of rock mass blasting preparation

Training of highly qualified personnel at Higher Educational Institutions will be incomplete if students (bachelors, masters and doctors) don’t have the opportunity to test modules of technological and production processes, as they would not be able to determine the structure and parameters of these processes via control channels and estimate the equation of relationship of input and output coordinates graphically/visually, consequently, such personnel cannot operate (manage) production, much less create and design new more efficient technologies and control systems thereof. Modern supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA) – allow developing virtual models of different complexity most closely resembling actual technological and production processes, controller management of such processes, visualization and opportunity of testing parameters changes of technological processes in real time mode for use in corresponding training researching in major technical specialties at HEI. This article considers the research of complex structured blocks in quarry conditions, development of software hardware complexes for determination of internal structure of debris and their rock processing characteristics, parameters of drilling and blasting operations, and visualization in real time mode of rock mass with different blasting parameters based on modern SCADA systems.Подготовка высококвалифицированных кадров в технических ВУЗах будет неполной, если обучающиеся (бакалавры, магистранты и докторанты) не имеют возможности тестировать модели технологических и производственных процессов, так как они не в состоянии определить структуру и параметры данных процессов по каналам управления и оценить уравнение взаимосвязи входных и выходных координат наглядно, в связи с этим, такой специалист не может грамотно эксплуатировать (управлять) функционирующим производством, а тем более создавать и проектировать новые более эффективные технологии и системы управления ими. Современные SCADA - системы (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) – позволяют разрабатывать виртуальные модели различной сложности, максимально приближенные к реальным технологическим и производственным процессам, контроллерное управление данными процессами, визуализацию и возможность тестировать изменения параметров технологического процесса в режиме реального времени для использования в соответствующих учебных работах по профилирующим дисциплинам технических специальностей ВУЗов. В данной статье рассматривается исследование сложноструктурных блоков в условиях карьера, разработка программно-технических комплексов для определения внутренней структуры развала пород и их горно-технологических характеристик, параметров буровзрывных работ, визуализация в режиме реального времени массива пород при различных параметрах взрывания на основе современных SCADA - систем

Leptoconops nosopheris sp. n. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and Paleotrypanosoma burmanicus gen. n., sp. n. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), a biting midge - trypanosome vector association from the Early Cretaceous

Leptoconops nosopheris sp. n. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is described from a blood-filled female biting midge in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new species is characterized by a very elongate terminal flagellomere, elongate cerci, and an indistinct spur on the metatibia. This biting midge contained digenetic trypanosomes (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in its alimentary tract and salivary glands. These trypanosomes are described as Paleotrypanosoma burmanicus gen. n., sp. n., which represents the first fossil record of a Trypanosoma generic lineage