Covid-19 Pandemic in Political Cartoons of the American Press: An Experience of Multimodal Analysis

An attempt is made to analyze the place of political cartoons in the current socio-political media discourse in the United States. The material was the cartoons published in the spring of 2020 from USA Today and Philadelphia Inquirer, the informational occasion for the creation of which was the Covid-19 pandemic. The definitions of political cartoons as a multimodal text with a complex coding system is considered in the article. It is noted that in this type of text, phenomenological cognitive structures are actualized both through linguistic projection and through visual-spatial images. Attention is paid to intertextuality as the basis of political cartoon: the authors proceed from the position that the decoding of meaning by the recipient depends on whether he and the author have common background knowledge. It is shown that the Covid-19 pandemic is thematically embedded in the broader socio-political agenda, whereby a successful interpretation requires the recipient to have background knowledge of the current socio-political challenges facing the United States, namely the domestic political agenda. It is stated that the studied cartoons are distinguished by their reliance on precedent, and the actualization of background knowledge occurs through a combination of the visual and verbal components of the text. It is concluded that among the linguistic means of creating a satirical effect, a play on words is distinguished based on the literal and figurative meaning of individual lexical units

Сравнительная клиническая эффективность лекарственных средств неспецифической профилактики гриппа и орви у детей в период сезонного подъема заболеваемости

Objective: comparative open-label randomized study of the safety and efficacy of the drugs Alpha-glutamyl-tryptophan + Ascorbic acid + Bendazole («Cytovir-3«) and Umifenovir for prophylactic influenza and acute respiratory viral infectionsin children aged over 6 in organized groups.Materials and methods. 207 healthy children ≥6 years old of organized educational groups. According to study protocol they were divided into 2 groups: 102 children were randomizes to receive Alpha-glutamyl-tryptophan + Ascorbic acid + Bendazole (Сytovir-3, Group 1), capsules (JSC MBSPC «Cytomed«, Russia) while 105 children were randomizes to receive Umifenovir 100 mg (Group 2) capsules (Pharmstandart Leksredstva, Russia). The frequency of adverse reactions on drugs and adverse events was assessed while taking drugs and within 3 weeks after. Efficiency was assessed by calculate value of prophylactic efficiency index in comparison groups. Efficacy was analyzed on the basis of the comparative incidence of children included in the study with a total incidence in Saint-Petersburg.Results: the studied drugs showed a high safety profile and match preventive clinical efficacy against influenza and acute respiratory viral infections. Both drugs during prophylactic administration stimulated the production of secretory IgA. A tendency to a decrease in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in groups of children taking the studied drugs was revealed and compared with general indicators reflecting the integrated epidemic situation of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections in Saint-Petersburg during the study. The data obtained allow us to recommend the use of the drug Alpha-glutamyl-tryptophan + Ascorbic acid + Bendazole («Сytovir-3«) (dosage form – capsules) for the prevention of respiratory diseases in organized children’sgroups during the period of seasonal increase in the incidence of  influenza and acute respiratory viral infectionsin.Цель: открытое сравнительное, рандомизированное исследование безопасности и эффективности препаратов Альфа-глутамил-триптофан + Аскорбиновая кислота + Бендазол («Цитовир-3») и «Умифеновир» для профилактики гриппа и ОРВИ у детей с 6 лет в организованных коллективах.Материалы и методы. В исследовании приняли участие 207 детей в возрасте ≥6 лет соматически здоровые, посещающие организованные образовательные коллективы. Согласно протоколу исследования, дети были рандомизированы на 2 группы: 1-я (n=102) получала препарат Альфа-глутамил-триптофан + Аскорбиновая кислота + Бендазол («Цитовир-3»), капсулы (ЗАО «МБНПК «Цитомед», Россия), 2-я группа (n=105) – «Умифеновир» капсулы 100 мг («Фармстандарт Лексредства», Россия). Оценивалась частота побочных реакций на препараты и нежелательных явлений на фоне приема лекарственных средств и в течение 3 недель после. Профилактическая эффективность оценивалась путем расчёта величины – индекс эффективности, определения sIg A, а также на основании сравнительной заболеваемости детей, включенных в исследование с общей заболеваемостью в Санкт-Петербурге.Результаты: исследуемые препараты показали высокий профиль безопасности и  соответствующую клиническую эффективность по предупреждению гриппа и ОРВИ. Оба препарата на фоне профилактического приема стимулировали выработку секреторного IgA. Выявлена тенденция к снижению заболеваемости ОРВИ в группах детей, принимавших исследуемые препараты, в сравнении с общими показателями, отражающими интегральную эпидемическую ситуацию по гриппу и другим ОРВИ в Санкт-Петербурге во время  проведения исследования. Полученные данные позволяют рекомендовать применение  препарата Альфа-глутамил-триптофан + Аскорбиновая кислота + Бендазол («Цитовир-3») (лекарственная форма – капсулы) для профилактики респираторных заболеваний в организованных образовательных детских коллективах в период сезонного повышения заболеваемости

Formation of Marketing Strategy at Environmentally Determined Enterprise

Actuality of this research is caused by necessity for implementation into practice of economic activities of Russian enterprises of modern methods of ecological marketing which should adequately reflect ecological aspects of enterprise’s activity of its operative component (preparation and implementation of the process of production and provision of services) and of the sphere of management (including cooperation of enterprise with external environment as to problems of ecology and its obligations, including waste recovery), for the purpose of maximal reduction of possible negative consequences for ecosystem and human. Under modern market conditions, ecological marketing is gaining larger significance in the formation and implementation of functions of ecological policy of enterprise, which is caused by increase of responsibility of producers of goods and services before consumers and society in whole. Ecological marketing gives the possibility not only to implement the process of strategic target setting but also shows solutions to many difficulties related do emergence of ecological risk. At that, perceiving of ecological risk by society largely determines the relation of specific enterprise (or type of technology, products, or services) in no lesser way than actual characteristic of influence of production process. This circumstance, which characterizes the actuality and importance of a problem, determined the topic of this article. The conducted research pursued scientific & practical goals which correspond to tasks of formation of modern marketing strategies at environmentally determined enterprise. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s1p36

Disruption of asxl1 results in myeloproliferative neoplasms in zebrafish

Somatic loss-of-function mutations of the additional sex combs-like transcriptional regulator 1 (ASXL1) gene are common genetic abnormalities in human myeloid malignancies and induce clonal expansion of mutated hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). To understand how ASXL1 disruption leads to myeloid cell transformation, we generated asxl1 haploinsufficient and null zebrafish lines using genome-editing technology. Here, we show that homozygous loss of asxl1 leads to apoptosis of newly formed HSCs. Apoptosis occurred via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway mediated by upregulation of bim and bid Half of the asxl1+/ - zebrafish had myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) by 5 months of age. Heterozygous loss of asxl1 combined with heterozygous loss of tet2 led to a more penetrant MPN phenotype, while heterozygous loss of asxl1 combined with complete loss of tet2 led to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These findings support the use of asxl1+/ - zebrafish as a strategy to identify small-molecule drugs to suppress the growth of asxl1 mutant but not wild-type HSCs in individuals with somatically acquired inactivating mutations of ASXL1

CLINICAL TRIAL OF THE PANDEMIC INFLUENZA MONOVALENT VACCINE PANDEFLU

Abstract. Evaluation of reactogenicity, safety and immunogenicity of the inactivated subunit influenza vaccine adsorbed monovalent (Pandeflu) on the base of strain A/California/7/2009 (H1N1v) was conducted in 70 volunteers aged 18–60 years immunized by one or two doses. A clinical trial of the vaccine Pandeflu was conducted in the St.Petersburg Institute of Influenza. The study group included 38 women (54,3%) and 32 men (45,7%). The average age of women was 38.2 years, men — 26.9 years, mean age of all volunteers was equal to 31.7 years. This group of volunteers was randomized in 2 subgroups. The first subgroup of 50 volunteers was vaccinated with Pandeflu, but the second one of 20 volunteers was given a placebo. The strong and moderate local and systemic reactions were not observed. All local (6 volunteers) and systemic (6 volunteers) reactions were recorded after ithout any medical care. It proves the good tolerability and low reactogenicity of vaccine Pandeflu. Indicators of clinical and biochemical blood tests, a general analysis of urine during the study period were within normal limits. In the study of the immunogenicity it has been shown that after a single injection of vaccine the first vaccination. All these reactions were mild and transient and disappeared wPandeflu the seroconversion rate reached 68%, but the level of seroprotection was 52%. The multiplication factor of the geometric mean antibody titer increase in serum reached a value of 5.8. Conducting of immunization with two doses of vaccine with the interval of 28 days increases the immunogenicity: the level of seroconversion rate increases up to 96%, but the level of seroprotection – up to 74%, seroconversion factor – up to 10.8. These data confirm high immunogenic potential vaccine in case of single dose as well as double doses administration

Современные аспекты поражения центральной нервной системы у больных ВИЧ-инфекцией (обзор литературы)

The literature review highlights modern ideas about the pathogenesis, pathomorphology, and clinical manifestations of central nervous system damage in patients with HIV infection, and also touches on the problems of diagnosis and treatment of these opportunistic infections. Particular attention should be paid to patients with severe immunodeficiency (CD4+T-lymphocyte count < 200 cl/ml) due to the high risk of secondary diseases of the central nervous system. Along with the etiological verification of opportunistic diseases of the central nervous system, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is important at the initial stage of diagnosis, with the help of which it is possible to identify changes in the brain substance characteristic of certain pathogens. In addition to the basic etiotropic therapy of opportunistic infections in HIV patients, effective antiretroviral therapy and its index of penetration into the central nervous system play a crucial role.В обзоре литературы освещаются современные представления о патогенезе, патоморфологии, клинических проявлениях поражения центральной нервной системы у больных ВИЧ-инфекцией, а также затрагиваются проблемы диагностики и лечения данных оппортунистических инфекций. Особое внимание следует уделять пациентам с тяжелым иммунодефицитом (количество CD4+Т-лимфоцитов ≤ 200 кл/мкл) в связи с высоким риском развития вторичных заболеваний центральной нервной системы. Наряду с этиологической верификацией оппортунистических заболеваний центральной нервной системы, важное значение на начальном этапе диагностики имеет магнитно-резонансная томография головного мозга, с помощью которой можно выявить характерные для определенных возбудителей изменения в веществе головного мозга. Помимо базовой этиотропной терапии оппортунистических инфекций, у больных ВИЧ-инфекцией решающую роль играют эффективная антиретровирусная терапия и ее индекс проникновения в центральную нервную систему

Combination of Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Heart Disease in Patients in Clinical Practice: Comorbidities, Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes (Data from the REСVASA Registries)

Aim. Assess the structure of comorbid conditions, cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) included in the outpatient and hospital RECVASA registries.Materials and methods. 3169 patients with AF were enrolled in outpatient RECVASA (Ryazan), RECVASA AF-Yaroslavl registries and hospital RECVASA AF (Moscow, Kursk, Tula). 2497 (78.8%) registries of patients with AF had CAD and 703 (28.2%) of them had a previous myocardial infarction (MI).Results. There were 2,497 patients with a combination of AF and CAD (age was 72.2±9.9 years; 43.1% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.57±1.61 points; HAS-BLED – 1.60±0,75 points), and the group with AF without CAD included 672 patients (age was 66.0±12.3 years; 43.2% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 3.26±1.67 points; HAS-BLED – 1,11±0.74 points). Patients with CAD were on average 6.2 years older and had a higher risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications (p<0.05). 703 patients with a combination of AF and CAD had the previous myocardial infarction (MI; age was 72.3±9.5 years; 55.2% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.57±1.61; HAS-BLED – 1.65±0.76), and 1794 patients didn't have previous MI (age was 72.2±10.0 years; 38.4% of men; CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.30±1.50; HAS-BLED – 1.58±0.78). The proportion of men was 1.4 times higher among those with the previous MI. Patients with a combination of AF and CAD significantly more often (p <0.0001) than in the absence of CAD received a diagnosis of hypertension (93.8% and 78.6%), chronic heart failure (90.1% and 51.2%), diabetes mellitus (21.4% and 13.8%), chronic kidney disease (24.8% and 17.7%), as well as anemia (7.0% and 3.0%; p=0.001). Patients with and without the previous MI had the only significant difference in the form of a diabetes mellitus higher incidence having the previous MI (27% versus 19.2%, p=0.0008). The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was insufficient, mainly in the presence of CAD (67.8%) than in its absence (74.5%), especially the prescription of anticoagulants (39.1% and 66.2%; p <0.0001), as well as in the presence of the previous MI (63.3%) than in its absence (74.3%). The presence of CAD and, in particular, the previous MI, was significantly associated with a higher risk of death (risk ratio [RR]=1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] was 1.33-1.88; p <0.001 and RR=1.59; 95% CI was 1.33-1.90; p <0.001), as well as with a higher risk of developing a combined cardiovascular endpoint (RR=1.88; 95% CI was 1.17-3 , 00; p <0.001 and RR=1.75; 95% CI was 1.44-2.12; p<0.001, respectively).Conclusion. 78.8% of patients from AF registries in 5 regions of Russia were diagnosed with CAD, of which 28.2% had previously suffered myocardial infarction. Patients with a combination of AF and CAD more often than in the absence of CAD had hypertension, chronic heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and anemia. Patients with the previous MI had higher incidence of diabetes than those without the previous MI. The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was insufficient, and to a greater extent in the presence of CAD and the previous MI than in their absence. All-cause mortality was recorded in patients with a combination of AF and CAD more often than in the absence of CAD. All-cause mortality and the incidence of nonfatal myocardial infarction were higher in patients with AF and the previous MI than in those without the previous MI. The presence of CAD and, in particular, the previous MI, was significantly associated with a higher risk of death, as well as a higher risk of developing a combined cardiovascular endpoint

Patients with a Combination of Atrial Fibrillation and Chronic Heart Failure in Clinical Practice: Comorbidities, Drug Treatment and Outcomes

Aim. To assess in clinical practice the structure of multimorbidity, cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and outcomes in patients with a combination of atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic heart failure (CHF) based on prospective registries of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).Materials and Methods. The data of 3795 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) were analyzed within the registries RECVASA (Ryazan), RECVASA FP (Moscow, Kursk, Tula, Yaroslavl), REGION-PO and REGION-LD (Ryazan), REGION-Moscow, REGATA (Ryazan). The comparison groups consisted of 3016 (79.5%) patients with AF in combination with CHF and 779 (29.5%) patients with AF without CHF. The duration of prospective observation is from 2 to 6 years.Results. Patients with a combination of AF and CHF (n=3016, age was 72.0±10.3 years; 41.8% of men) compared with patients with AF without CHF (n=779, age was 70.3±12.0 years; 43.5% of men) had a higher risk of thromboembolic complications (CHA2DS2-VASc – 4.68±1.59 and 3.10±1.50; p<0.001) and hemorrhagic complications (HAS-BLED – 1.59±0.77 and 1.33±0.76; p<0.05). Patients with a combination of AF and CHF significantly more often (p<0.001) than in the absence of CHF were diagnosed with arterial hypertension (93.9% and 83.8%), coronary heart disease (87.9% and 53,5%), myocardial infarction (28.4% and 14.0%), diabetes mellitus (22.4% and 7.7%), chronic kidney disease (24.8% and 16.2%), as well as respiratory diseases (20.1% and 15.3%; p=0.002). Patients with AF in the presence of CHF, compared with patients without CHF, were more often diagnosed with a permanent form of arrhythmia (49.3% and 32.9%; p<0.001) and less often paroxysmal (22.5% and 46.2%; p<0.001) form  of  arrhythmia.  Ejection  fraction  ≤40%  (9.3%  and  1.2%;  p<0.001),  heart  rate  ≥90/min  (23.7% and 19.3%; p=0.008) and blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg (59.9% and 52.2%; p<0.001) were recorded with AF in the presence of CHF more often than in the absence of CHF. The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was higher, albeit insufficient, in the presence of CHF (64.9%) than in the absence of it (56.1%), but anticoagulants were prescribed less frequently when AF and CHF were combined (38.8% and  49, 0%; p<0.001). The frequency of unreasonable prescription of antiplatelet agents instead of anticoagulants was 52.5% and 33.3% (p<0.001) in the combination of AF, CHF and coronary heart disease, as well as in the combination of AF with coronary heart disease but without CHF. Patients with AF and CHF during the observation period compared with those without CHF had higher mortality from all causes (37.6% and 30.3%; p=0.001), the frequency of non-fatal cerebral stroke (8.2% and 5.4%; p=0.032) and myocardial infarction (4.7% and 2.5%; p=0.036), hospitalizations for CVD (22.8% and 15.5%; p<0.001).Conclusion. Patients with a combination of AF and CHF, compared with the group of patients with AF without CHF, were older, had a higher risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, they were more often diagnosed with other concomitant cardiovascular and chronic noncardiac diseases, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, tachysystole, failure to achieve the target blood pressure level in the presence of arterial hypertension. The frequency of prescribing proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy was higher, albeit insufficient, in the presence of CHF, while the frequency of prescribing anticoagulants was less. The  incidence of mortality from all causes, the development of non-fatal myocardial infarction   and cerebral stroke, as well as the incidence of hospitalizations for CVDs were higher in AF associated with CHF