Phylogenetic Analysis of <i>Yersinia pestis</i> Strains of Medieval Biovar from Natural Plague Foci of the Russian Federation and Bordering Countries

Objective of the study is to conduct phylogenetic investigation of Yersinia pestis strains (medieval biovar) from plague foci of Russia and bordering countries, using SNP-analysis of the genome-wide sequences of these strains. Materials and methods. Carried out has been sequencing of 14 Y. pestis strains, medieval biovar, from 13 natural plague foci of Russia and neighboring states, as well as their comparison to 9 strains of the same biovar, contained in the NCBI GenBank database. Using software products - Wombac 2.0 and Bionumerics 7.1, revealed is the presence of 1875 core SNPs, on the basis of which a dendrogram of phylogenetic relations between medieval strains is constructed. Results and conclusions. In consequence of genome-wide SNP-analysis, it is established that Y. pestis strains, medieval biovar, from plague foci of Russia and bordering states are assigned to 2.MED1 phylogenetic line and fall under two major evolutionary branches, the first one of which includes strains from the Caucasus and Caspian-Sea regions, and the second one - from Central Asia and China. The data obtained can be used for the development of molecular-genetic methods for differentiation of Y. pestis strains, medieval biovar

SOME FEATURES OF CURRENT TECHNOGENIC MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH’S CRUST

We describe the history of studying the current crustal movements by various methods and discuss technogenic effects recorded at large water-reservoir zones and mineral deposits in Siberia. Initially, classical surveying techniques aimed to obtain high-accuracy ground-based measurements of height, tilt and direction. Modern geodesy techniques and methods for measuring absolute gravity are now available to investigate displacement, deformation, tilt and other phenomena taking place on the Earth’s surface. These methods are used to estimate kinematic parameters of the crust areas (e.g. rates of subsidence and horizontal movements) and to monitor fluid motions in mineral deposits. Such data are critical for ensuring a proper management of the mineral deposits. In this article, we analyse technogenic processes observed in the Ust Balyk oil-gas field, the Zapolyarny gas deposit, the water-reservoir zone at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station (SSHPS) on the Yenisei river, and large open-pit mines in the Kuzbass basin. Our analysis is based on surface displacement rates estimated from the data collected in different periods of observations at large man-made facilities. In the study of the hydro technical objects, we estimated the displacement rates at 5.0 mm per year. In the northern areas of the West Siberian petroleum basin, subsidence rates amounted to 20–25 mm per year in the early 2000s. These estimates were supported by the high-accuracy gravity measurements showing an increase up to 6–7 microGal per year in the oil-gas field development areas. We assess a possibility of triggering effects related to weak seismicity due to a high stress accumulation rate (1 KPa per hour) in the SSHPS area. A connection between earth tides and catastrophic events, such as gas emissions in high amounts on mining sites, is discussed. Having analysed the surface monitoring records taken in South Primorye in September 2017, we conclude that underground nuclear explosions in North Korea in this period did not cause any significant displacement of the surface in this most southerly region of the Russian Far East territories

Fast optical variability of SS 433

We study the optical variability of the peculiar Galactic source SS 433 using the observations made with the Russian Turkish 1.5-m telescope (RTT150). A simple technique which allows to obtain high-quality photometric measurements with 0.3-1 s time resolution using ordinary CCD is described in detail. Using the test observations of nonvariable stars, we show that the atmospheric turbulence introduces no significant distortions into the measured light curves. Therefore, the data obtained in this way are well suited for studying the aperiodic variability of various objects. The large amount of SS 433 optical light curve measurements obtained in this way allowed us to obtain the power spectra of its flux variability with a record sensitivity up to frequencies of ~0.5 Hz and to detect its break at frequency =~2.4e-3 Hz. We suggest that this break in the power spectrum results from the smoothing of the optical flux variability due to a finite size of the emitting region. Based on our measurement of the break frequency in the power spectrum, we estimated the size of the accretion-disk photosphere as 2e12 cm. We show that the amplitude of the variability in SS 433 decreases sharply during accretion-disk eclipses, but it does not disappear completely. This suggests that the size of the variable optical emission source is comparable to that of the normal star whose size is therefore R_O \approx 2e12 cm \approx 30 R_sun. The decrease in flux variability amplitude during eclipses suggests the presence of a nonvariable optical emission component with a magnitude m_R=~13.2.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy Letters. The original version in Russian is available at http://hea.iki.rssi.ru/rtt150/ru/ss433_pazh10/pss433_fast.pd

Updating of Intra-Specific <i>Yersinia pestis</i> Classification, Based on the Results of Whole-Genome Sequencing of the Strains from the Russian Federation and the Neighboring States

Carried out has been genome-wide sequencing of 20 Yersinia pestis strains from all 11 natural plague foci in Russia and some foci in the neighboring states. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 1918 core SNPs, identified in the genomes of these strains and 16 Y. pestis strains from NCBI GenBank, has revealed 5 clusters of closely related strains. Taking these clusters into account, up-dated has been subspecific classification of plague agent. New taxonomy has combined 5 subspecies: major (ssp. pestis ), Caucasian (ssp. caucasica ), ulegeisk (ssp. ulegeica ), and two novel ones - Central Asian (ssp. central asiatica ) and Angolan (ssp. angola ). Central Asian subspecie comprises evolutionally related strains, earlier classified as altaica and hissarica, as well as the strains from Talas high-mountain focus in Kirghizia and Uzbekistan, and microtus strains from China. Central asiatica is divided into three biovars - altai, hissar, and microtus. Set forward is a serviceable designation for the strains: 0.PE4a - for altai ones, 0.PE4h - for hissar, 0.PE4t - for talas, and 0.PE4m - for microtus, and also for ulegeica subspecie - 0.PE5

Коррекция изменений в системе гемокоагуляции и фибринолиза в комплексном лечении посттравматического гемоторакса

Patients with infected haemothorax had elevated thrombinemia, plasma antithrombin-lll deficiency and depression of the fibrinolysis. The pleural effusion displayed increased thrombin level and significant deficiency of active inhibitors. The coagulated haemothorax was characterized by low thrombin activity and noticeable enhancem ent in inhibitory balance both in the plasm a and in the pleural effusion. Differentiated laboratoryassisted corre ction of fibrinogenesis and fibrinolysis in the pleural cavity considering a type of the haemothorax improves the outcome.У больных инфицированным гемотораксом в плазме крови наблюдается высокий уровень тромбинемии, дефицит антитромбина-Ш, депрессия фибринолиза. В плевральном экссудате увеличивается активность тромбина при дефиците активных ингибиторов. При свернувшемся гемотораксе как в плазме крови, так и в плевральной полости наблюдается снижение активности тромбина при значительном повышении ингибиторного баланса. Дифференцированная, лабораторно прогнозируемая коррекция процессов фибриногенеза-фибринолиза в плевральной полости с учетом вида гемоторакса улучшает исходы заболевания

Effect of Phytopreparations Based on Bioreactor-Grown Cell Biomass of Dioscorea Deltoidea, Tribulus Terrestris and Panax Japonicus on Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

In the present study, we explored the therapeutic potential of bioreactor-grown cell cultures of the medicinal plant species Dioscorea deltoidea, Tribulus terrestris and Panax japonicus to treat carbohydrate metabolism disorders (CMDs) in laboratory rats. In the adrenaline model of hyperglycemia, aqueous suspensions of cell biomass pre-administered at a dose of 100 mg dry biomass/kg significantly reduced glucose level in animal blood 1–2.5 h (D. deltoidea and T. terrestris) or 1 h (P. japonicus) after adrenaline hydrochloride administration. In a streptozotocin-induced model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the cell biomass of D. deltoidea and T. terrestris acted towards normalization of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as evidenced by a significant reduction of daily diuresis (by 39– 57%), blood-glucose level (by 46–51%), blood content in urine (by 78–80%) and total cholesterol (25– 36%) compared to animals without treatment. Bioactive secondary metabolites identified in the cell cultures and potentially responsible for their actions were deltoside, 25(S)-protodioscin and protodioscin in D. deltoidea; furostanol-type steroidal glycosides and quinic acid derivatives in T. terrestris; and ginsenosides and malonyl-ginsenosides in P. japonicus. These results evidenced for high potential of bioreactor-grown cell suspensions of these species for prevention and treatment of CMD, which requires further investigation. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This.Funding: Bioreactor cultivation of plant cell suspensions and their biochemical analysis were financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation through Megagrant project no. 075-15-2019-1882 and performed by using the equipment of the large-scale research facilities “Experimental biotechnological facility” and “All-Russian Collection of cell cultures of higher plants” of the IPPRAS (EBF IPPRAS and ARCCC HP IPPRAS). Hypoglycemic activity evaluation of the cell biomass was performed with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation project no. 19-14-00387. The results of the hypoglycemic activity evaluation were obtained by using the equipment of the Center for Collective Use “Analytical Center of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Saint Petersburg State Chemical Pharmaceutical University (SPCPU) of the Ministry of Health of Russia”, equipped with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia

Российское рандомизированное исследование по выбору оптимального режима антибиотикопрофилактики при радикальной цистэктомии: первые результаты MACS-TRIAL (NCT05392634)

Introduction. The key treatment for high-risk non-invasive bladder tumor or invasive urothelial cancer remains radical cystectomy (RCE), which provides the best survival rates. At the same time, the incidence of infectious complications in a number of studies reaches 33%, which in most cases causes repeated hospitalizations and disrupts the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines. Therefore, research into effective alternations of antibiotic prophylaxis remains relevant.Materials and methods. The MACS trial is a Russian Phase 3 study with a prospective randomized set of participants to assess the incidence of infectious complications after RCE in the context of the ERAS guidelines (intermediate data snapshot after including 39% of the data). Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria are published on ClinicalTrials. gov, ID – NCT05392634. The study has been approved by the Local Ethics Committee, No. 1/129 of April 28, 2022. Statistical data processing was performed with StatPlus:Mac LE.Results and discussion. 36 patients were included in the study (39% of the expected sample). For the period from May 30, 2022 to February 01, 2023. A heterotopic Bricker reservoir was formed intracorporeally in 83.3% of cases (30/36), an orthotopic J-pouch reservoir was created in 13.8% of cases (5/36) and in 2.9% of cases (1/36) the urodereating stage was completed with ureteral clipping. No significant differences were revealed in urine bacterial contamination before surgery. However, in group A, the incidence of positive bacterial cultures, when the ureteric intubators were removed, was 2-fold higher than in the prolonged antibiotic therapy group: 7/14 cases (50.0%) and 3/12 cases (25.0%), respectively. In group B, the risk of complications in the prolonged antibiotic therapy group reduced by 47% within 30 days after RCE (HR 0.53 (95CI %: 0.21-1.32).Conclusion. An intermediate data snapshot in MACS study revealed that RCE was associated with a high risk of early postoperative infectious complications. The prognostic significance of systemic inflammation indices as predictors of infectious complications subject to further evaluation in the remaining 61% of cases.Введение. Ключевым методом лечения инвазивного уротелиального рака или неинвазивной опухоли мочевого пузыря высокого риска остается радикальная цистэктомия (РЦЭ), которая обеспечивает наилучшие показатели выживаемости. При этом инфекционные осложнения, по данным ряда исследований, достигают 33 % от общего числа осложнений, и они в большинстве случаев являются причиной повторной госпитализации и нарушают реализацию протокола Раннего послеоперационного восстановления (ERAS). Поэтому исследования в области эффективных схем антибиотикопрофилактики остаются актуальными.Материалы и методы. Исследование MACS — российское исследование 3-й фазы с проспективным рандомизированным набором участников для оценки частоты инфекционных осложнений после РЦЭ в условиях протокола ERAS (промежуточный срез данных после включения 39 %). Подробно критерии включения и исключения опубликованы на сайте ClinicalTrials.gov, идентификатор NCT05392634. Работа получила одобрение Локального этического комитета № 1/129 от 28.04.2022 г. Статистическая обработка данных выполнена в пакете StatPlus: Mac LE.Результаты и обсуждение. За период с 30.05.2022 по 01.02.2023 г. включены 36 пациентов (39 % от предполагаемой выборки). В 83,3 % (30/36) случаев выполнено интракорпоральное формирование гетеротопического резервуара по Bricker, в 13,8 % сформирован ортотопический резервуар типа J-pouch (5/36) и в 2,9 % (1/36) этап уродеривации завершен клипированием мочеточников. Значимых различий по бактериальной контаминации мочи до операции не выявлено, однако в группе А частота положительного бактериального посева при удалении мочеточниковых интубаторов была выше в 2 раза по сравнению с группой пролонгированной антибиотикотерапии: 7/14 случаев (50,0 %) и 3/12 случаев (25,0 %) соответственно. Снижение риска наступления осложнений в группе пролонгированной антибиотикотерапии в период 30 дней после РЦЭ на 47 % выявлено в группе В (ОР 0,53 (95 ДИ %: 0,21–1,32).Заключение. В результате промежуточного среза базы данных исследования MACS было установлено, что РЦЭ ассоциирована с высоким риском развития ранних послеоперационных инфекционных осложнений. При наборе оставшихся 61 % случаев планируется оценка прогностической значимости индексов системного воспаления как предикторов развития инфекционных осложнений

ГЛУБИННОЕ СТРОЕНИЕ ГОРНОГО АЛТАЯ И СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ МОДЕЛИ ГРАВИТАЦИОННОГО ПОЛЯ

The results of the ground-based absolute gravity and space geodetic measurements for the Altai Mountains were considered in combination with EIGEN-6C4 Global Geopotential Model (ETOPO1 Global Relief Model) generated from the satellite data. Analysis was made on different kinds of data: model values for the vertical component of gravity, values of Bouguer and Faye gravity reductions, variations of the vertical gravity gradient, and changes in altitude of the measurement sites. With EIGEN-6C4 model for Bouguer reduction, the crustal thickness curve was drawn along the Novosibirsk (southern West Siberia) – Ukok Plateau (Altai Mountains) line with a length of 800 km. The Moho depth increases from 40 km in the northwest of the area to 51 km in the southeast. For the homogeneous crust model, there was obtained the Moho depth distribution in the Altai Mountains and their foothills.The analysis of the results of modeling Bouguer and Faye reductions, the data on quasigeoid heights and the relationship between relief height and Bouguer anomalies implies that the Altai Mountains area as a whole is isostatically compensated. Non-compensated are some intermountain basins, such as, for example, the Kurai and Chuya valleys.Результаты наземных измерений в районах Горного Алтая, полученные методами абсолютной гравиметрии и космической геодезии, рассматривались совместно с моделью геопотенциала EIGEN-6C4 (модель рельефа ETOPO1), построенной по спутниковым данным. Анализировались различные виды данных: модельные величины вертикальной составляющей силы тяжести, значения силы тяжести в редукциях Буге, Фая, вариации вертикального градиента силы тяжести и изменения высот пунктов. С использованием модели EIGEN-6C4 в редукции Буге построен график мощности земной коры по линии Новосибирск (юг Западной Сибири) – плато Укок (Горный Алтай) длиной 800 км. Глубина границы Мохоровичича увеличивается от 40 км на северо-западе территории до 51 км на юго-востоке. Для модели однородной коры получено распределение глубин по поверхности Мохоровичича в Горном Алтае и его предгорьях.Анализируя результаты построений в редукциях Буге и Фая, данные о высотах квазигеоида и соотношение высоты рельефа и аномалий Буге, следует сделать вывод, что в целом территория Горного Алтая изостатически скомпенсированна. Являются нескомпенсированными отдельные межгорные впадины, например Курайская и Чуйская долины

ВАРИАЦИИ СИЛЫ ТЯЖЕСТИ И СОВРЕМЕННАЯ ГЕОДИНАМИКА ЮГОЗАПАДНОЙ ЧАСТИ БАЙКАЛЬСКОГО РЕГИОНА

Modern methods for determination of gravity values make it possible to obtain measurements with the accuracy up to 10–9 from g0 of the normal value (up to 1 microgal = 10 m/sec2). While all the systematic and periodic effects are excluded, a question is raised about stability of the gravity field of the Earth over time. Changes of the altitude (the Earth’s radius) with time can be estimated with an accuracy of 0.1 mm by modern space geodetic techniques, such as VLBI method. Our experiments for evaluation of stability of the gravity values over the past decades are based on the data obtained by Russian and foreign observatories using absolute ballistic laser gravimeters. The results put a limit of 10–10 per year to changes of the Earth’s radius. These estimations can be useful for testing hypotheses in tectonics.Measurements of non-tidal variations of gravity (Δg), which were obtained from 1992 to 2012 at the Talaya seismic station (located in the south-western part of the Baikal region), are interpreted together with GPS observation data. At the Talaya seismic station, the linear component of gravity variations corresponds to changes in the elevation of this site. The correlation coefficient is close to the normal value of the vertical gradient of gravity. At this site, coseismic gravity variations at the time of the Kultuk earthquake (27 August 2008, Mw=6.3) were caused by a combined effect of the change of the site’s elevation and deformation of the crust. Our estimations of the coseismic effects are consistent with results obtained by modeling based on the available seismic data.Современные методы определения значения силы тяжести позволяют проводить измерения с точностью до 10–9 от g0 нормального значения (до 1 микрогала = 10 нм/с2). При этом исключаются все систематические и периодические эффекты и возникает вопрос о стабильности поля силы тяжести Земли во времени. Оценить изменения высоты (радиуса Земли) во времени с точностью до 0.1 мм позволяют современные методы космической геодезии (VLBI метод). Экспериментальные оценки стабильности значения силы тяжести за последние десятилетия сделаны по материалам отечественных и зарубежных обсерваторий, использующих абсолютные лазерные баллистические гравиметры. Полученные результаты ограничивают изменение радиуса Земли значением 10–10 в год. Эти оценки можно использовать для тестирования тектонических гипотез.Результаты измерений неприливных вариаций ускорения силы тяжести Δg, проведенных в 1992–2012 гг. на сейсмостанции «Талая» (юго-западная часть Байкальского региона), интерпретируются совместно с данными GPS-наблюдений. Линейная составляющая вариации силы тяжести на станции Талая соответствует изменениям высоты пункта. Коэффициент корреляции близок к нормальному значению вертикального градиента силы тяжести. Косейсмические вариации силы тяжести на этом пункте в эпоху Култукского землетрясения (27.08.2008 г., Мw=6.3) вызваны комплексным эффектом изменения высоты пункта и деформации земной коры. Оценки косейсмических эффектов соответствуют результатам моделирования на основе сейсмологических данных

Меланома полового члена и уретры: обзор литературы и наблюдения из практики

One of clinical and anatomical types of melanoblastoma is melanoma of the glans penis appearing on the skin or mucosa of the penis (external opening of the urethra or ureter, internal or external layer of the foreskin). It’s a rare disease, and most of specialists are unfamiliar with it, including oncologists and urologists. Thus, the conducted research has practical importance as it may improve diagnostics and treatment of patients with this oncological pathology. Одной из клинико-анатомических разновидностей меланобластомы является меланома головки полового члена, возникающая на коже полового члена или на слизистой оболочке (наружном отверстии мочеиспускательного канала или уретры, внутреннем или наружном листке крайней плоти). Это редкое заболевание, малоизвестное широкому кругу специалистов, в том числе онкологам и урологам, поэтому выполненная работа имеет большое практическое значение, так как позволит улучшить диагностику и лечение больных данной онкопатологией