Evidence for low-temperature antiferromagnetic phase transition in Ising singlet magnet KTb(WO₄)₂

The magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measured along the b axis of a KTb(WO₄)₂ single crystal was investigated experimentally in the temperature range 70 mK–6 K and in magnetic fields up to 8 T. The results allow us to make conclusion that singlet magnet KTb(WO₄)₂ undergoes an antiferromagnetic phase transition Tc = 0.65 K

Clinical-pharmacological aspects of the choice of phytocomponents for the regulation of the gastrointestinal function

The presentations of dyspepsia include a range of clinical symptoms, each of which has different mechanisms of development, and, therefore, requires different approaches to the correction. In this context, the combination preparations containing components of natural origin with polymodal action on the gastrointestinal tract deserve special attention. Combination of synergistic components: highly bioavailable curcumin and prebiotic fibers; artichoke leaf extract and chamomile flower extract provide simultaneous effects on three key digestive organs: stomach, pancreas and liver. Curcumin has an anti-inflammatory effect, helps to normalize acidity and restore microflora; epithelialization of ulcers; normalization of the gallbladder function; elimination of toxins. It inhibits the processes of primary tumour formation and prevents the development of metastatic processes in gastrointestinal cancer. Pharmaceutical technologies using cyclodextrin as an excipient increase curcumin’s water solubility, dispersibility and absorption, which has been confirmed in several comparative bioavailability studies in healthy volunteers. Chamomile flower extract has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antiulcer, wound healing and astringent effects. Chamomile is rich in slimy substances that envelop and protect the inflamed mucous membrane, including the stomach, from irritation with hydrochloric acid, bile components, food, and drugs. Mucous substances also have an anti-inflammatory effect and improve digestion. The artichoke facilitates the outflow of bile, affects the secretion of gastric glands, pancreas, increases the enzymatic activity of gastric juice, enhances intestinal motility during its atony, and has a hepatoprotective effect. As can be seen from the above, a combination of these synergistic components can be used in patients with chronic diseases, functional disorders as part of combination therapy, as well as for the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases in healthy people

Circulating microRNAs in lung cancer: prospects for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of antitumor treatment efficacy

The review considers the main techniques to extract microRNA (miRNA) from various biological fluids (in particular, the serum and plasma), approaches to the analysis of miRNA concentration and composition, and methods to normalize the results in data analyses. Advantages and drawbacks of the methods are described. Special attention is given to circulating miRNAs, which can be used as markers for minimally invasive diagnosis, prediction of antitumor treatment efficacy, and disease prognosis in lung cancer. The review discusses the prospects and limitations that arise as the clinical significance is evaluated for miRNAs as potential tumor markers and a better understanding is gained for the roles various miRNAs play in the pathogenesis of lung cancer

Force Field Analysis and K. Lewin’s Change Model as leverages of “Lean University” principles in student environment

Background. Lean production technologies in medical institutions are deployed within the national program “Healthcare”. The vocational training of medical personnel in lean technologies have become a timely demand. Educational organisations are achieving this goal via including philosophy, the principles and techniques of lean production in curricula and involving students and residents in project activities.Objectives. Assessment of driving and restraining forces in the student community with respect to project activities within the “Lean University” concept initiative.Methods. The study unitised Force Field Analysis and the Kurt Lewin’s 3-stage Model of Change. The sample comprised students of Kuban State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. An anonymous survey of students from two study cohorts (with and without experience in the “Lean University” activities) revealed the main driving and restraining factors shaping the students’ attitude towards the “Lean University” initiative.Results. A total of 1508 students were surveyed. The survey revealed the following major driving forces that motivate students’ project activities: the intention to solve a problem that affects students (60%, experienced cohort), the intention to gain new experience, knowledge and skills (40%, inexperienced cohort). The intention to benefit a university was the second motivating in both respondent cohorts (57 and 36%, respectively).The restraining factors for students to participate are: a lack of free time (over 60 respondents in each cohort), lack of understanding of the project’s matter (over 30% in each cohort), erroneous belief in the infeasibility of remote participation (no or seldom visits to the project’s office) (19% of respondents in inexperienced cohort).Conclusion. Guidelines have been formulated to encourage the student community to develop practical skills in lean technologies for improving the overall internal processes efficiency at a higher educational institution

Circulating DNA-markers in lung cancer: changes in retrotrasposons methylation status in response therapy and during the post-treatment follow-up

Malignant cell transformation is accompanied by two processes of DNA methylation changes

Cell-free and cell-bound circulating DNA in breast tumours: DNA quantification and analysis of tumour-related gene methylation

Tumour development is characterised by the increased circulating DNA (cirDNA) concentration and by tumour-related changes in blood plasma DNA. Concentration of cirDNA and methylation of RARβ2, RASSF1A and HIC-1 gene promoters were investigated in cell-free and cell-surface-bound fractions from healthy donors, patients with breast cancer, and patients with breast fibroadenoma. Tumour development was shown to lead to significant changes in the distribution of cirDNA between cell-free and cell-surface-bound fractions. Analysis of RARβ2 and RASSF1A methylation in the total cirDNA provides 95% diagnostic coverage in breast cancer patients, 60% in patients with benign lesions, and is without false-positive results in healthy women. Results of the study indicate that methylation-specific PCR of RARβ2 and RASSF1A genes based on the total cirDNA combined with the quantitative analysis of cirDNA distribution between cell-bound and cell-free fractions in blood provide the sensitive and accurate detection and discrimination of malignant and benign breast tumours

Empirical Evaluation of Educational Service Quality in the Current Higher Education System

During the transition to the mixed education model during the Covid-19 pandemic, some issues have emerged in the matter of providing and supporting the quality of university education in all countries, including educational programs' relevance to the demands of the labor market, expectations of students and their families, digital transformation of the educational process, and economic stability of institution networks. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the quality of educational services in the higher education systems of Indonesia and Russia. The study systematized several essential factors for achieving educational service quality in the current higher education systems, given the limitations imposed by Covid-19. Following this objective, the study utilized a quantitative approach, adopting the SERVQUALmodel that measures the service quality across five service dimensions: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. The model aided the development of the questionnaire to assess the quality of the educational services of Indonesian and Russian universities. The questionnaire included 25 close-ended questions on two scales: one to measure the students' expectations regarding the quality of educational services and the other to measure the students' current perceptions. A snowball technique was used to recruit students from Indonesian and Russian universities as participants in the study. The students were asked to assess the educational services of their universities based on their initial expectations and current perceptions. Overall, the students of both countries revealed that they had high expectations from the educational services of their universities. However, the current perceptions of the Russian students regarding the quality of educational services provided by their universities are higher and more positive than the perceptions of the Indonesian students regarding the quality of educational services being delivered to them. The findings of the study have implications for education practitioners. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2022-SIED-05 Full Text: PD

Dynamics of LINE-1 retrotransposon methylation levels in circulating DNA from lung cancer patients undergoing antitumor therapy

Malignant cell transformation is accompanied with abnormal DNA methylation, such as the hypermethylation of certain gene promoters and hypomethylation of retrotransposons. In particular, the hypomethylation of the human-specific family of LINE-1 retrotransposons was observed in lung cancer tissues. It is also known that the circulating DNA (cirDNA) of blood plasma and cell-surface-bound circulating DNA (csb-cirDNA) of cancer patients accumulate tumor-specific aberrantly methylated DNA fragments, which are currently considered to be valuable cancer markers. This work compares LINE-1 retrotransposon methylation patterns in cirDNA of 16 lung cancer patients before and after treatment. CirDNA was isolated from blood plasma, and csb-cirDNA fractions were obtained by successive elution with EDTA-containing phosphate buffered saline and trypsin. Concentrations of methylated LINE-1 region 1 copies (LINE-1-met) were assayed by real-time methylation-specific PCR. LINE-1 methylation levels were normalized to the concentration of LINE-1 region 2, which was independent of the methylation status (LINE-1-Ind). The concentrations of LINE-1-met and LINE-1-Ind in csb-cirDNA of lung cancer patients exhibited correlations before treatment (r = 0.54), after chemotherapy (r = 0.72), and after surgery (r = 0.83) (P 0.05, respectively). These results suggest a need for the further investigation of dynamic changes in levels of LINE-1 methylation depending on the antitumor therapy

Problematic aspects of participation of pharmacists in the system of pharmacovigilance in Russia

In article results pharmacoepidemiology researches on studying of knowledge of pharmacists (n=187) on safety issues medicinal and pharmacovigilance are resulted. 28 % of pharmacists have adverse drug reactions to medicines in the practice, however submit spontaneous messages only 5 % of respondents. Princi pal causes of low activity of pharmacists - a lack of time for drawing up of reports and low level of knowledge in the field of safety of medical products. 89 % of pharmacists need educational programs on pharmacovigilanc