Factors associated with diversity, quantity and zoonotic potential of ectoparasites on urban mice and voles

Wild rodents are important hosts for tick larvae but co-infestations with other mites and insects are largely neglected. Small rodents were trapped at four study sites in Berlin, Germany, to quantify their ectoparasite diversity. Host-specific, spatial and temporal occurrence of ectoparasites was determined to assess their influence on direct and indirect zoonotic risk due to mice and voles in an urban agglomeration. Rodent-associated arthropods were diverse, including 63 species observed on six host species with an overall prevalence of 99%. The tick Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, found on 56% of the rodents. The trapping location clearly affected the presence of different rodent species and, therefore, the occurrence of particular host-specific parasites. In Berlin, fewer temporary and periodic parasite species as well as non-parasitic species (fleas, chiggers and nidicolous Gamasina) were detected than reported from rural areas. In addition, abundance of parasites with low host-specificity (ticks, fleas and chiggers) apparently decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation associated with a gradient of urbanisation. In contrast, stationary ectoparasites, closely adapted to the rodent host, such as the fur mites Myobiidae and Listrophoridae, were most abundant at the two urban sites. A direct zoonotic risk of infection for people may only be posed by Nosopsyllus fasciatus fleas, which were prevalent even in the city centre. More importantly, peridomestic rodents clearly supported the life cycle of ticks in the city as hosts for their subadult stages. In addition to trapping location, season, host species, body condition and host sex, infestation with fleas, gamasid Laelapidae mites and prostigmatic Myobiidae mites were associated with significantly altered abundance of I. ricinus larvae on mice and voles. Whether this is caused by predation, grooming behaviour or interaction with the host immune system is unclear. The present study constitutes a basis to identify interactions and vector function of rodent-associated arthropods and their potential impact on zoonotic diseases

Ступінь приверженості до лікування та його ефективність у пацієнтів з гіпертонічною хворобою залежно від способу життя

Vitamin C is a widely used vitamin. Here we review the occurrence and properties of aldonolactone oxidoreductases, an important group of flavoenzymes responsible for the ultimate production of vitamin C and its analogs in animals, plants, and single-cell organisms

“Wet” transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy in the management of persistent epithelial defects in the graft

Sergei V Churashov,1 Elena V Kudryashova,1 Alexei N Kulikov,1 Ernest V Boiko,1–3 Valerii F Chernysh,1 Dmitrii S Maltsev1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Military Medical Academy, St Petersburg, Russia; 2St Petersburg Branch, The S Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, St Petersburg, Russia; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, St Petersburg, Russia Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of “wet” transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (TE-PTK) for treating persistent epithelial defects (PEDs) in the corneal graft following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).Methods: This study describes a noncomparative, prospective interventional case series. Patients with post-PKP graft epithelial defects lasting >3 months despite previous treatments with extensive wear soft contact lenses, amniotic membrane transplantation, and tarsorrhaphy were treated with wet TE-PTK. A wet TE-PTK procedure including a “wet ablation” step was performed using the EC-5000 excimer laser. Follow-up visits were at post-PTK days 3, 5, 10, and 30, and at each month thereafter.Results: Eight patients (8 eyes; 5 men and 3 women; mean age, 51.3±14.3 years; mean follow-up period, 9.1±3.0 months) were included in this study. The mean best-corrected visual acuity was 1.76±0.28 log minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at baseline and improved to 1.1±0.22 logMAR at 10 days postoperatively (p=0.0156; the improvement was significant). This effect remained stable throughout the remainder of the follow-up period. The mean time from wet TE-PTK to complete reepithelization was 4.3±1.3 days.Conclusion: Wet TE-PTK appears to be effective for patients with post-PKP PEDs in the corneal graft who have failed conservative measures or previous surgical interventions. Keywords: phototherapeutic keratectomy, persistent epithelial defects, penetrating keratoplasty, transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy, recurrent corneal erosio

La judicatura en el sistema constitucional ruso

El presente artículo se detiene a analizar el papel de la judicatura en el sistema constitucional ruso a partir de la Constitución de 1993, aquella que sustituyó a la Constitución de 1978 de la República Socialista Federativa de la Unión Soviética que estaba basada en la ideología comunista. Así, con la finalidad de dar cuenta del nuevo orden constitucional, enfatiza en importantes aristas como el principio de separación de poderes, los derechos humanos y libertades reconocidos constitucionalmente, la interrelación entre la jurisprudencia de los órganos internacionales de derechos humanos y la Corte Constitucional de Rusia, entre otros.This article is about new constitutional order in Russia emphasizing fundamental areas as the role of judiciary in the Russian Constitutional System from 1993 Constitution, the one which replaced the 1978 Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Constitution based on communist ideology. Therefore, it is intended to examine the principle of separation of powers, constitutionally recognized human rights and liberties, relationship between international bodies’ case law of human rights and the Russian Constitutional Court, among others issues

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Long-Term Experience of Target Therapy

Background & Aims. Interpretation of key aspects of pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and development and introduction of target therapy have changed the prognosis of this once fatal disease dramatically. Results of numerous clinical trials demonstrated substantial superiority of tyrosine kinase inhibitors over previous therapy techniques. At the same time, clinical trials had limitations in patient enrollment, as well as treatment conditions and duration. The analysis of our clinical experience in CML target therapy (over the period from 2003 till 2015) is an important argument for introduction of novel drugs into routine clinical practice. The aim of the study is to analyze our own experience in CML target therapy and to compare our results with clinical trials data. Methods. Outpatient’s cards and case histories of CML patients treated in the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusiology over last 12 years were analyzed in this work. Published results of multi-center clinical trials evaluating the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in CML were used for a comparative analysis. The primary morbidity rate and the prevalence of CML, results of first and subsequent treatment lines were studied with assessment of survival rates, adverse events, and the nature of the response (hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular). Results. The experience in treatment of 208 CML patients was analyzed. The use of imatinib led to clinical and hematological remission (complete hematologic response) was achieved in 95 % of patients. The frequency of complete cytogenetic responses (CCyR) was 69 %, and that of major molecular responses (MMR) was 58 %. The overall 5-year survival (OS) was 86.4 %, the 10-years OS was 67.5 %. The use of nilotinib during the second line permitted to achieve CCyR in 61 % of patients, and the MMR in 55 % of cases. The two-year OS was 96 % and the 5-year OS was 68 %. CCyR and MMR were achieved in 50 % patients treated with dasatinib during the second line. As for the third line, CCyR was achieved in 50 % of patients and MMR in 25 %. In case of previous imatinib and nilotinib resistance, CCyR was observed only in 36 % of patients and MMR in 18 % of cases. During second-line dasatinib treatment, the 2-year OS was 85 %, and the 5-year OS was 51 %; as for the third line, the results were 75 % and 50 %, respectively. The range and rates of adverse events of the therapy, in general, corresponded to results of clinical trials. Conclusion. The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in treatment of CML permits to prolong patient’s life span and quality of life significantly. The use of nilotinib and dazatinib (in case of nilotinib intolerance and/or resistance) could be effective in most patients