CONCENTRATIONS OF IMMUNOREGULATORY PROTEINS AND SOME CYTOKINES IN BLOOD OF WOMEN DURING MENOPAUSAL THERAPY

It has been shown that the influence of hormonal and non-hormonal therapy of menopausal syndrome upon immune profile may be variable, and the results of appropriate studies may be often contradictory. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of hormonal and non-hormonal therapy in menopausal syndrome upon serum levels of some immunoregulatory proteins, i.e., alpha2-macroglobulin (a2-MG), pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (PAG), contents of some related cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-2) as well as VEGF amounts. Administration of menopausal hormone treatment and nonhormonal therapy was associated with reduced IL-6 levels in serum, regardless of treatment duration, or type of drug applied. We have found a statistically significant decrease of IL-8 serum levels in the course of dynamic monitoring in the women taking a menopausal hormone preparation containing 1 mg of 17β-estradiol and 5 mg dydrogesterone, and a non-hormonal drug containing genistein (60 mg) for 3-6 months. The levels of VEGF demonstrated high individual variability during therapy of menopausal syndrome. Serum concentrations of immunoregulatory a2-MG were stable in climacteric syndrome, and did not differ from normal values. However, the content of PAG, a known immunosuppressive protein, was increased 3-4 times in serum of 33-50% of the women receiving menopausal hormonal therapy, regardless of progestogen dose (5 or 10 mg dydrogesterone), and duration of its use. These findings suggest a need for individualized drug selection in order to minimize a risk of immunodeficiency conditions in the patients receiving hormone therapy of menopausal syndrome

Optimized properties of live vaccine influenza reassortant strains obtained by reverse genetics

Classical reassortment in developing chicken eggs is a well-established technique for obtaining LAIV strains. Naturally generated reassortant vaccine strains are characterized by high reproductive capacity, genetically stable characteristics of temperature sensitivity and cold resistance, which correspond to the characteristics of the MDV involved in crossing with the epidemic virus. Along with antigenic relevance, natural reassortment ensures attenuation of vaccine strains, good reproduction capacity in upper respiratory tract cells and inability to reproduction in the lower respiratory tract. With classical reassortment, the speed and efficiency of obtaining vaccine reassortants largely depend on the properties of epidemic virus, and therefore cannot be stable. The potential of reverse genetics is attractive because it allows to obtain vaccine reassortants quickly and efficiently, reduce the likelihood of spontaneous mutations; however, the vaccine strain is deprived of the advantages of natural selection, in which the most viable clones are selected. This study presents the results of comparatively assessed A(H3N2) LAIVs obtained in parallel by classical reassortment and reverse genetics according to criteria confirming that vaccine strains inherit the necessary properties that guarantee their harmlessness and high reproduction in chicken embryos. Strains for LAIV obtained by both methods retained all attenuating mutations inherited from the MDV, were highly reproductive at the optimal temperature, with temperature sensitivity corresponded to the MDV. However, strains obtained by reverse genetics, was observed to have partial loss of cold resistance in comparison with that of the MDV and classical reassortants. Reduced cold adaptation may negatively affect vaccine effectiveness. It is important that after several additional passages in chicken embryos at low temperature, the cold resistance of the vaccine strain, assembled by reverse genetics, was increased. Credibly that cold resistance is a phenotypic trait, the degree of manifestation of which depends on the temperature conditions of virus multiplication. The selective factor of reduced incubation temperature is missing in reverse genetics. In order for the cold-adapted phenotype to be fully realized, additional passages at low temperature of RG-reassortants are necessary. Thus, the reverse genetics method using plasmid technology allows to effectively prepare reassortant strains for LAIV. An important stage in obtaining vaccine strains using genetic engineering techniques should be the control of their cold-adapted phenotype and its optimization by additional passages at low temperature

Особенности острофазного ответа при различных вариантах воспалительных процессов придатков матки

Concentrations of some acute phase proteins (alpha-1-antitrypsin or AT; alpha-2-macroglobulin or MG; pregnancy associated alpha-2-glycoprotein or PAG) and lactoferrin (Lf) were studied in blood serum of 82 women with various types of uterine append-ages inflammation. The data obtained have been compared with conventional and commonly used laboratory indices of inflammato-ry response such as fibrinogen (Fbg) and leukocyte intoxication index. Our findings confirmed significant role of macroglobulin family proteins in the development of acute phase inflammation. Associated tendencies in changes of acute phase proteins concen-trations in various types of uterine appendages inflammation have been identified and recommended to be employed in clinical prac-tice for making differential diagnosis and for selection of optimal therapeutic approach.Исследованы концентрации некоторых белков острой фазы воспаления: α-1-антитрипсин, α-2-макроглобулин, ассоциированный с беременностью α-2-гликопротеин, а также лактоферрин в сыворотке крови 82 женщин с различными вариантами воспалительных процессов придатков матки. Полученные данные сопоставлены с общепризнанными и широко применяемыми лабораторными показателями воспалительной реакции, такими как фибриноген и лейкоцитарный индекс интоксикации. Результаты исследования подтвердили существенную роль белков семейства макроглобулинов в развитии воспалительной реакции. Выявлены закономерности в изменениях концентраций белков острой фазы воспаления при различных вариантах воспалительных процессов придатков матки, которые целесообразно использовать в клинической практике для дифференциальной диагностики и выбора оптимальной тактики лечения

Clinical characteristics of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy in combination with palivizumab vaccination

The article deals the clinical manifestations of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, its diagnosis and treatment with an assessment of effectiveness, specific prevention of respiratory syncytial infection.В статье рассмотрены клинические проявления бронхолегочной дисплазии, ее диагностика и лечение с оценкой эффективности, специфическая профилактика респираторно- синцитиальной инфекции

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ УРОВНЯ АДИПОНЕКТИНА И МЕТАБОЛИЧЕСКИХ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ ПРИ МОДИФИКАЦИИ ОБРАЗА ЖИЗНИ У БОЛЬНЫХ АБДОМИНАЛЬНЫМ ОЖИРЕНИЕМ

The paper studied nutritional habits, physical loads, anthropometric and metabolic perfromances, and revealed the changes required to increase the level of adiponectine under drug-free modalities of treatment of patients suffering from abdominal obesity. A 3-year randomized lifestyle intervention trial was performed in 153 patients with AO, age 30-53 yrs, 74 patients (group 1) performed individual hypocaloric diet balanced in fat intake, 79 patients (group 2) performed diet and individual aerobic exercise All patients received individual recommendations on changing their life style. Dynamics of anthropometric, metabolic parameters, physical capacity and adiponectin level were measured. Relation between low level of adiponectin and some metabolic disorders, and sedentary life were revealed. The rate of improving anthropometric parameters, physical capacity, and nutritionassociated with increasing adiponectin was established.В работе были изучены особенности питания, физических нагрузок, антропометрических и метаболических показателей и выявлена степень их изменений, необходимых для увеличения уровня адипонектина при немедикаментозном лечении больных абдоминальным ожирением. Было проведено 3-летнее проспективное исследование по модификации образа жизни у 153 больных АО в возрасте 30 - 55 лет. Пациенты были рандомизированы в 2 группы лечения: диетой - 74 человека и сочетания диеты и физической нагрузки - 79 человек. Всем больным были даны индивидуальные рекомендации по изменению образа жизни. В ходе исследования оценивались динамика антропометрических, метаболических параметров, уровня адипонектина и изменение характера питания и физической активности. Была установлена взаимосвязь между сниженным уровнем АН и метаболическими изменениями, характером питания и физической активностью у больных АО. Установлены пороговые значения снижения антропометрических показателей, калорийности и жирности питания, а также повышения уровня физической работоспособности, при достижении которых уровень адипонектина повышается

Neonates’ responses to repeated exposure to a still face

The main aims of the study were to examine whether human neonates' responses to communication disturbance modelled by the still-face paradigm were stable and whether their responses were affected by their previous experience with the still-face paradigm.The still face procedure, as a laboratory model of interpersonal stress, was administered repeatedly, twice, to 84 neonates (0 to 4 day olds), with a delay of an average of 1.25 day.Frame-by-frame analysis of the frequency and duration of gaze, distressed face, crying, sleeping and sucking behaviours showed that the procedure was stressful to them both times, that is, the still face effect was stable after repeated administration and newborns consistently responded to such nonverbal violation of communication. They averted their gaze, showed distress and cried more during the still-face phase in both the first and the second administration. They also showed a carry-over effect in that they continued to avert their gaze and displayed increased distress and crying in the first reunion period, but their gaze behaviour changed with experience, in the second administration. While in the first administration the babies continued averting their gaze even after the stressful still-face phase was over, this carry-over effect disappeared in the second administration, and the babies significantly increased their gaze following the still-face phase.After excluding explanations of fatigue, habituation and random effects, a self-other regulatory model is discussed as a possible explanation for this pattern

Сосудистые кальцинаты молочной железы как проявление системного атеросклероза

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are socially significant diseases and one of the main causes of death among women. There are no effective and uniform screening methods to prevent the prevalence and mortality of CVD. Breast artery calcifications may be one of the available tools for CVD risk stratification. The pathogenesis of calcification of the middle vessel wall, known as Mönckeberg's arteriosclerosis, is different from the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis that coronary arteries. However, research data supports a correlation between breast artery calcifications and risk factors for CVD. These factors include coronary atherosclerosis, detected by CT-coronarography.Purpose. To assess the prevalence of breast arterial calcification and to determine the association with cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery calcification, atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries and visceral branches of the abdominal aorta.Material and methods. 21 patients were hospitalized in the cardiology department. The patients underwent digital mammography to detect breast arterial calcifications. All patients also underwent CT coronary angiography with angiography of the abdominal aorta.Results. The use of the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney W-test with an abnormal distribution showed a correlation between the breast arterial calcifications and the calcium index (p = 0.0028), coronary artery stenosis (p = 0.040), calcification of the thoracic aorta wall (p = 0.035) and stenosis of the visceral branches of the abdominal aorta (p = 0.037).Conclusions. The breast arterial calcifications correlates with a more frequent detection of calcifications in the walls of the coronary arteries and a higher calcium index.Сердечно-сосудистые заболевания (ССЗ) относятся к социально значимым заболеваниям и являются одной из основных причин смертности среди женщин. Отсутствие эффективных и унифицированных методов скрининга препятствует уменьшению заболеваемости и распространенности ССЗ и смертности от них. Сосудистые кальцинаты в молочной железе могут стать одним из доступных инструментов страти фикации риска ССЗ. Патогенез кальциноза средней оболочки артерий, известный как артериокальциноз Менкеберга, отличается от патогенеза атеросклероза интимы, возникающего в коронарных артериях. Тем не менее исследования подтверждают корреляцию между сосудистыми кальцинатами в молочной железе и факторами риска ССЗ. К таким факторам относится атеросклероз коронарных артерий, выявляемый с помощью КТ-коронарографии.Цель работы: изучение связи сосудистых кальцинатов в молочной железе с факторами риска сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний, атеросклерозом коронарных артерий, брахиоцефальных артерий и висцеральных ветвей брюшной аорты.Материал и методы. 21 пациентка, находящаяся на стационарном лечении в отделении кардиологии, была обследована на наличие сосудистых кальцинатов в молочных железах с помощью цифровой маммографии. Также всем пациенткам была выполнена КТ-коронарография с ангиографией брюшной аорты.Результаты. Применение W-критерия Уилкоксона–Манна–Уитни при ненормальном распределении показало взаимосвязь между наличием сосудистых кальцинатов в молочной железе и кальциевым индексом (р = 0,0028), стенозами коронарных артерий (р = 0,040), кальцинозом стенки грудной аорты (р = 0,035) и стенозами висцеральных ветвей брюшной аорты (р = 0,037).Заключение. Наличие кальцинатов в стенках сосудов молочных желез коррелирует с более частым выявлением кальцинатов в стенках коронарных артерий и более высоким кальциевым индексом

РАСПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ГЕНОТИПОВ И ВСТРЕЧАЕМОСТЬ АЛЛЕЛЕЙ ГЕНА АЛЬДОСТЕРОН-СИНТАЗЫ У БОЛЬНЫХ АБДОМИНАЛЬНЫМ ОЖИРЕНИЕМ

We observed 140 patients with abdominal obesity (AO) (IDF, 2005), the residents of St. Petersburg (44.6 ± 0.6 years). Metabolic syndrome (MS) (IDF, 2005) was diagnosed in 49.2% of patients with AO. The most frequent component of MS in patients with AO was arterial hypertension (AH). The distribution of genotypes and -alleles of the aldosterone-synthase gene in patients with AO and in the comparison group (56 subjects without AO, 41.0 ± 1.1 years) didn't differ (p> 0.05). Levels of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were higher in carriers of -344T allele of aldosterone-synthase gene. Plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone and glucose levels, anthropometric parameters, serum blood lipids and carbohydrate metabolism indices in obese patients with different genotypes of aldosterone-synthase gene didn't differ. -344T allele of aldosterone-synthase gene in patients with AO is associated with the increased risk of AH.Обследованы 140 больных абдоминальным ожирением (АО) (IDF, 2005), жителей Санкт-Петербурга (44,6±0,6 года). У 49,2 % пациентов с АО был выявлен метаболический синдром (МС) (IDF, 2005). Самым частым компонентом МС у больных АО была артериальная гипертензия (АГ). Распределение генотипов и встречаемость аллелей гена альдостерон-синтазы у больных АО и в группе сравнения (56 обследованных без АО, 41,0±1,1 года) не различалось (р>0,05). Уровни артериального давления (АД), как систолического, так и диастолического, были выше у носителей -344Т-алле-ля гена альдостерон-синтазы. Активность ренина плазмы крови, уровень альдостерона плазмы крови, антропометрические параметры, показатели липидного спектра сыворотки крови и углеводного обмена у пациентов с АО, носителей различных генотипов гена альдостерон-синтазы, не различались. Носительство -344Т-аллеля гена альдостеронсинтазы у больных АО ассоциировано с увеличением риска развития артериальной гипертензии