Database of Amphibia distribution in West Siberia (Russia)

West Siberia is a large region in North Eurasia, which harbours multiple climatic zones, landscape types and biomes. Its amphibian fauna is characterised by a combination of European and Asian species. For many species, this region is the place where the limits of their global ranges are located (Rana temporaria, R. amurensis, Bufotes sitibundus). West Siberia also has at least two non-native amphibian species (Pelophylax ridibundus, Bufotes viridis). The exact ranges and patterns of distribution of the West Siberian amphibian species are poorly studied. The mapping of species ranges is important for the development of conservation measures and monitoring of invasive species is required to investigate their impacts on the natural ecosystems

The Level of Peptide YY in Blood Serum of Children With ChronicConstipation: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background. The gastrointestinal polypeptide YY has an inhibitory effect on the colon motility, which can provoke constipation. The role of this peptide in the development of chronic constipation in children remains uninvestigated. Objective.  Our aim was to determine the serum concentration of peptide YY in children with chronic constipation. Methods.  A cross-sectional study included children aged 4–14 years with chronic constipation, who have been observed in the gastroenterology  unit of the paediatric clinical hospital from March 2014  to September  2015.  The control group was formed from healthy children. The diagnosis of chronic constipation  was established based on the Rome criteria (2016).  The blood serum level of peptide YY was determined by enzyme immunoassay after collecting serum samples from all study participants. Results.  The study included 47 patients with chronic constipation (boys 62%; median age — 8 years) and 20 healthy children (boys 50%; median age — 7.5 years, compared  with the main group p = 0.445). It has been found that children with chronic constipation had a lower blood serum concentration of peptide YY than healthy children: the median (25th; 75th percentile) was 0.68 (0.24; 1.43) and 2.34 (1.41; 3.35) ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.001). The level of peptide YY in the group of children with chronic constipation was not related to gender, age; the presence of colonoptosis, colonic/enteric reflux; the duration of chronic constipation, as well as to the occurrence of complications such as encopresis and colitis. Conclusion. Low blood serum levels of peptide YY were detected in children with chronic constipation

Amphibian diversity and distribution in West Siberia (Russia)

West Siberia is a vast area in North Eurasia lying between the Ural Mountains and the Yenisei River. Its area is more than 2.4 million sq. km. West Siberia extends almost 3,000 km from north to south and has five ecological zones (biomes) following each other in the latitudinal direction: tundra, forest-tundra, forest-steppe, steppe, and the foothills and mountains of Salair, Altai, Kuznetsk Alatau, and Gornaya Shoria. The amphibian fauna of West Siberia is poor due to harsh climatic conditions and includes only 11 species. There is still no complete understanding of distribution patterns of different amphibian species in the region. The aim of this study is to partially fill this gap by summarizing all possible sources of occurrence records for amphibians in West Siberi

Northern Hawk Owl invasions in the forest-steppe of Western Siberia

The article presents data on the invasions of the hawk owl (Surnia ulula) into the forest-steppe of Western Siberia on the territory of the Novosibirsk and Kemerovo regions, Altai Krai and Krasnoyarsk Krai territories