Evaluating the effectiveness of public health financing based on financial and non-financial indicators in terms of the knowledge economy

In conditions of the knowledge economy human capital, human value are the main factors of economic growth and prosperity of the state. Qualitative characteristics of human capital are indicators of public health. Therefore, one of the most important tasks of the state is to assess the effectiveness of financing public health expenditures. The methodological base of the research was the methods of system and economic analysis, mathematical statistics and decision optimization, which resulted in the identification of factors influencing the resource supply, availability and quality of public health. The formation of a comprehensive indicator of the effectiveness of the public health system based on the system of financial and non-financial indicators will allow to form numerically an assessment of the effectiveness of investments in public health and draw conclusions about the resources' provision, level of development, accessibility and quality of public health. The obtained results can be used in making effective public financial decisions, which allow to achieve an increase of accessibility and quality of health care, focusing on the human capital in conditions of knowledge economy.peer-reviewe

On the trace of the antipode and higher indicators

We introduce two kinds of gauge invariants for any finite-dimensional Hopf algebra H. When H is semisimple over C, these invariants are respectively, the trace of the map induced by the antipode on the endomorphism ring of a self-dual simple module, and the higher Frobenius-Schur indicators of the regular representation. We further study the values of these higher indicators in the context of complex semisimple quasi-Hopf algebras H. We prove that these indicators are non-negative provided the module category over H is modular, and that for a prime p, the p-th indicator is equal to 1 if, and only if, p is a factor of dim H. As an application, we show the existence of a non-trivial self-dual simple H-module with bounded dimension which is determined by the value of the second indicator.Comment: additional references, fixed some typos, minor additions including a questions and some remark

Dynamics of REL, RELA and IRF1 transcription factor expression in U937 macrophages after dioxin exposure

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand- activated transcription factor, participates in a wide range of critical cellular events in response to endogenous signals or xenobiotic chemicals. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD) is one of the AhR ligands with a very high binding affinity for the AhR. TCDD is the most toxic among the dioxin xenobiotics and induces a broad spectrum of biological responses, including immunotoxicity and cancer. The complex ligand:AhR:ARNT functions as a transcription factor, binding to the dioxin responsive element (DRE) sequences in the regulatory regions of target genes. Macrophages are key regulators of the innate immune response, as well as one of the first types of cells which respond to chemical stress, so the study of the action of TCDD on these cells is important. Putative DREs were predicted using the SITECON software tool in the regulatory regions of the genes encoding transcription factors REL, RELA and IRF1 expressed in macrophages. Nuclear extract and total RNA were isolated from U937 macrophages treated with 10 nM TCDD (or 0.1 % DMSO as a control) for 1, 3 and 6 hours. The binding of the TCDD:AhR:ARNT transcription complex from the nuclear extract with double-stranded oligonucleotides containing the putative DREs was studied by the EMSA. Isolated RNA was used for the study of the TCDD-mediated alteration of gene expression levels using Real-time PCR with SYBR Green I. Obtained data demonstrate the functional activity of DREs in the IRF1, REL, RELA gene promoters via AhR signaling pathway

Correlation of susceptibility to ortho-aminoazotolueneinduced hepatocarcinogenesis with Car and Ahr signaling pathway activation in mice

Ortho-aminoazotoluene (OAT) is a potent hepatocarcinogen for most strains of mice. It has previously been shown that OAT application activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) and the constitutive androstane receptor (Car) in the mouse liver. Both of these receptors are directly involved in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effect of chronic OAT administration on the mRNA expression levels of Ahr, Car and their target genes Cyp1a1 and Cyp2b10 in the liver of DD/He (DD) and CC57BR/Mv (BR) mouse strains contrasting in sensitivity to hepatocarcinogenesis. The inflammatory response of these strains was also studied. Male mice of both strains received OAT oil solution at the dose of 225 mg/kg body weight four times within two months. Control animals received the equivalent solvent amount. Mice were sacrificed on days 1 and 4 after the last OAT administration. Gene expression levels in the liver were determined by real-time PCR. The inflammatory response was evaluated by serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). In resistant BR mice, OAT induced a pronounced and prolonged increase in Cyp1a1 mRNA, showing primarily Ahr activation, while the DD strain displayed a more pronounced elevation of Cyp2b10 expression, indicative of Car activation. In addition, a strong inflammatory response to OAT was recorded in DD mice but not in BR. It is assumed that the prevalence of Ahr signaling pathway activation over Car signaling pathway activation is a factor of resistance to OAT-induced hepatocarcinogenesis

Diagnostics of endowments of students of higher education institutionin the field of art and creative activityby means of the Internet resource

The relevance of the problem considered in article is caused by need of tool ensuring identification, development, diagnostics and escort of the gifted youth studying in higher education institution, in various areas of creative activity at different educational steps and stages of personal development.Актуальность проблемы, рассматриваемой в статье, обусловлена необходимостью инструментального обеспечения выявления, развития, диагностики и сопровождения одаренной молодежи, обучающейся в вузе, в различных областях творческой деятельности, на разных образовательных ступенях и этапах личностного развития

Communicative competence of pharmaceutical worker (psychological and legal aspects)

The professional activity of a pharmacist is inextricably linked with communications: to conduct pharmaceutical counseling to patients for the choice, rational use of medicines and pharmaceutical products; to inform medical specialists about medicines, etc. The significant number of legal acts regulate pharmaceutical activity and professional duties of pharmacist. Therefore, the communicative activity of pharmacists is revealed not only in the psychological field (“how to speak”), but also in the legal field (“what to say”). In the article, the authors consider two aspects of the communicative competence of pharmacists – psychological and legal ones.Профессиональная деятельность провизора неразрывно связана с коммуникациями: проведение фармацевтического консультирования пациентов по вопросам выбора, рационального применения и использования лекарственных препаратов и товаров аптечного ассортимента; информирование медицинских специалистов о лекарственных средствах и т.д. Осуществление фармацевтической деятельности и исполнение профессиональных обязанностей провизора регламентируются значительным количеством нормативных правовых актов. В связи с этим коммуникативная деятельность фармацевтического работника раскрывается не только в психологическом поле («как говорить»), но и в правовом («что говорить»). В статье авторы рассматривают два аспекта коммуникативной компетентности фармацевтического работника – психологический и правово

Lena Delta hydrology and geochemistry: long-term hydrological data and recent field observations

The Lena River forms one of the largest deltas in the Arctic. We compare two sets of data to reveal new insights into the hydrological, hydrochemical, and geochemical processes within the delta: (i) long-term hydrometric observations at the Khabarova station at the head of the delta from 1951 to 2005; (ii) field hydrological and geochemical observations carried out within the delta since 2002. Periods with differing relative discharge and intensity of fluvial processes were identified from the long-term record of water and sediment discharge. Ice events during spring melt (high water) reconfigured branch channels and probably influenced sediment transport within the delta. Based on summer field measurements during 2005–2012 of discharge and sediment fluxes along main delta channels, both are increased between the apex and the front of the delta. This increase is to a great extent connected with an additional influx of water from tributaries, as well as an increase of suspended and dissolved material released from the ice complex. Summer concentrations of major ion and biogenic substances along the delta branches are partly explained by water sources within the delta, such as thawing ice complex waters, small Lena River branches and estuarine areas

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF RARE POLYMORPHISMS OF HUMAN HBB, HBD AND F9 PROMOTER TATA BOXES ON THE KINETICS OF INTERACTION WITH THE TATA-BINDING PROTEIN

Human genes HBB, HBD and F9 belong to the hematopoiesis system. The deficiency or excess of these genes’ products is the cause of hereditary thalassemias of various severity and haemophilia B Leyden. Previously, it was shown that a number of annotated single-nucleotide polymorphisms of TATA boxes of these genes associated with the occurrence of ß- and δ-thalassemia affect the interaction with the TATAbinding protein, the interaction changing proportionally with the change in the number of gene products. In the present work, we investigate the effect of rare not annotated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TATA boxes of these genes with an unknown manifestation on the TATA-binding protein interaction. To study the kinetic characteristics of TBP/TATA complex formation in vitro, doublestranded oligodeoxynucleotides identical to the TATA-containing portions of the promoters of the HBB, HBD and F9 genes (“normal” and minor alleles) and recombinant human TBP were used. It was shown that the TATA-box SNP of –25A > C (rs281864525) and the deletion of the –25AA (rs63750953) TATA-box of the β-globin gene have the same effect on the TBP/TATA affinity, which decreases 3-folds in both cases. However, the effect of these substitutions on the rate of the TBP/TATA complex formation is significantly different: SNP –25A > C decreases the rate 5-fold, and the deletion decreases the rate more than 7-fold. The influence of substitutions on the strength of the TBP/TATA complexes has a different effect. If in the case of SNP –25A > C the strength of the complexes increases 1.8-fold, then in the case of the –25AA deletion, the strength of the complexes increases 2.4-fold, even though the affinity of the TATAbinding protein to the TATA box decreases. A comparison of experimental values of affinity (KD) of the TBP/T complexes of “normal” and minor alleles with the predicted has shown that data correlate well with each other. The coefficient of linear correlation r = 0.94 (α < 0.0001). A comprehensive approach to the study of rare polymorphisms may lead to the identification of the most sensitive markers of orphan diseases, which will contribute to the development of reliable and rapid methods for their diagnosis and treatment

The morphofunctional and biochemical characteristics of opisthorchiasis-associated cholangiocarcinoma in a Syrian hamster model

The validity of experimental models of pathologies is one of the key challenges in translational medicine. Cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, ranks second among oncological diseases of the liver. There is a strong association between bile duct cancer and parasitic infestation of the liver caused by trematodes in the family Opisthorchiidae. We have recently demonstrated that cholangiocarcinoma can develop in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected by Opisthorchis felineus and administered with dimethylnitrosamine. However, there is still no description of how this experimental model can possibly be used in translational research. The aim of this work was to study the morphological, functional and biochemical characteristics during cholangiocarcinoma development in Syrian hamsters infected by O. felineus and administered with dimethylnitrosamine. The experi­ment lasted 30 weeks with combined exposure to dimethylnitrosamine in drinking water at a dose of 12.5 ppm and a single injection of 50 metacercariae O. felineus. It was shown that the development of cholangiocarcinoma (18 weeks) increased the total number of basophils, eosinophils and monocytes, the relative number of granulocytes, the amount of total and direct bilirubin, and cholesterol and ALT levels, but reduced the relative number of lymphocytes. Based on pathological, morphometric and biochemical analyses, our model has characteristics similar to those in patients with opisthorchiasisassociated cholangiocarcinoma. Thus, this model can be used to test anticancer drugs, to study the mechanisms of cholangiocarcinogenesis and to search for molecular markers for early diagnosis of bile duct cancer

Experimental opisthorchiasis: a study of blood cells, hematopoiesis and startle reflex in laboratory animals

One of the species of the family Opisthorchiidae, Opisthorchis felineus (O. felineus), causes severe disturbances in humans and animals, and so it is the subject of important research studies. Two weeks after infection we compared the impact of O. felineus invasion on the changes in blood cells composition, bone marrow hematopoiesis and behavioral startlereflex in inbred C57BL/6 male mice and Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Considerable interspecies differences were revealed for many parameters estimated. It was found that the relative weight of the main organ of the peripheral immune system – spleen, is significantly larger in mice than in hamsters. Moreover, the infection with O. felineus caused a significant enlargement of the spleen only in mice. More pronounced changes in the blood cells composition, which was accompanied by activation of hematopoietic stem cells of myeloid and erythroid set, were determined in hamsters. Blood changes in the response to infection in mice were less severe and were not accompanied by the changes in colony formation. Mouse acoustic startle reaction differed from hamster one too. The expression of the startle reaction and the value of pre-pulse inhibition were discriminated in animals of two species. Infected hamsters had no reaction of habituation  to the sound stimulus. In addition, the maturation of O. felineus worms was faster in hamsters than in mice. Data obtained suggest a greater resistance of mice to O. felineus infection, but do not exclude the availability of mice as a model in the study of processes taking place in the host during the development of experimental opisthorchiasis