Vitamin D Status Among Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Multicenter Prospective, Non-randomized, Comparative Study

BackgroundJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by destructive and inflammatory damage to the joints. The aim in this study was to compare vitamin D levels between children and adolescents, 1–18 years of age, with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and a health control group of peers. We considered effects of endogenous, exogenous, and genetic factors on measured differences in vitamin D levels among children with JIA.MethodsOur findings are based on a study sample of 150 patients with various variants of JIA and 277 healthy children. The blood level of vitamin D was assessed by calcidiol level. The following factors were included in our analysis: age and sex; level of insolation in three regions of country (center, south, north); assessment of dietary intake of vitamin D; effect of prophylactic doses of cholecalciferol; a relationship between the TaqI, FokI, and BsmI polymorphisms of the VDR gene and serum 25(OH)D concentration.ResultsWe identified a high frequency of low vitamin D among children with JIA, prevalence of 66%, with the medial level of vitamin D being within the range of “insufficient” vitamin D. We also show that the dietary intake of vitamin D by children with JIA is well below expected norms, and that prophylactic doses of vitamin D supplementation (cholecalciferol) at a dose of 500–1,000 IU/day and 1,500–2,000 IU/day do not meet the vitamin D needs of children with JIA. Of importance, we show that vitamin D levels among children with JIA are not affected by clinical therapies to manage the disease nor by the present of VDR genetic variants.ConclusionProphylactic administration of cholecalciferol and season of year play a determining role in the development of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency

Performance of the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC

ALICE is the heavy-ion experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The experiment continuously took data during the first physics campaign of the machine from fall 2009 until early 2013, using proton and lead-ion beams. In this paper we describe the running environment and the data handling procedures, and discuss the performance of the ALICE detectors and analysis methods for various physics observables

Multiplicity dependence of jet-like two-particle correlation structures in p-Pb collisions at 1asNN=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between unidentified charged trigger and associated particles are measured by the ALICE detector in p\u2013Pb collisions at a nucleon\u2013nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The transverse-momentum range 0.7 < pT,assoc < pT,trig < 5.0 GeV/c is examined, to include correlations induced by jets originating from low momentum-transfer scatterings (minijets). The correlations expressed as associated yield per trigger particle are obtained in the pseudorapidity range |\u3b7| < 0.9. The near-side long-range pseudorapidity correlations observed in high-multiplicity p\u2013Pb collisions are subtracted from both near-side short-range and away-side correlations in order to remove the non-jet-like components. The yields in the jet-like peaks are found to be invariant with event multiplicity with the exception of events with low multiplicity. This invariance is consistent with the particles being produced via the incoherent fragmentation of multiple parton\u2013parton scatterings, while the yield related to the previously observed ridge structures is not jet-related. The number of uncorrelated sources of particle production is found to increase linearly with multiplicity, suggesting no saturation of the number of multi-parton interactions even in the highest multiplicity p\u2013Pb collisions. Further, the number scales only in the intermediate multiplicity region with the number of binary nucleon\u2013nucleon collisions estimated with a Glauber Monte-Carlo simulation

Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

Peer reviewe

Experience of using semi-elemental formulas for enteral nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis

Introduction. The issues of choosing the optimal product for enteral nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis in combination with comorbid conditions require a special clinical approach and cause difficulties for practitioners.Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of correcting the nutritional status in children with cystic fibrosis against the background of concomitant conditions using a semi-element product for enteral nutrition.Materials and methods. 20 children (boys – 9, girls – 11) aged from 1 year to 3 years (average age 2.9±0.7 years) with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and concomitant comorbid conditions - uncupable intestinal syndrome, post-resection syndrome against the background of meconial ileus, food allergy (the semi-element formula was prescribed according to indications, the evaluation of effectiveness according to the SCORAD index was not included in the objectives of the study). The state of actual nutrition, pancreatin doses, intestinal syndrome, nutritional status (anthropometric indicators) were evaluated at baseline (before) and 3 months (after) the use of Peptamen Junior in the study group.Design:prospective, observational, without comparison group.Results and discussion. The analysis showed that the anthropometric indicators significantly increased against the background of the correction of the diet and the use of “Peptamen Junior” as an additional food. BMI increased from 34.5 percentiles to 57.0 (p &lt; 0.05).Correction of nutrition using a semi-element formula with an altered fat composition, including SCT, and correction of the dose of pancreatic enzymes by calculating the fat content in food, led to a decrease in the manifestations of intestinal syndrome.Conclusion.The results obtained indicate the clinical effectiveness of the semi-element formula for enteral nutrition for the correction of nutritional deficiency (BMI less than 50 percentile) in young children with cystic fibrosis and concomitant pathology that requires a special approach

Gene Polymorphism of Biotransformation Enzymes and Ciprofloxacin Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

(1) Background: Ciprofloxacin (CPF) is widely used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, including pediatric patients, but its pharmacokinetics is poorly studied in this population. Optimal CPF dosing in pediatric patients may be affected by gene polymorphism of the enzymes involved in its biotransformation. (2) Materials and Methods: a two-center prospective non-randomized study of CPF pharmacokinetics with sequential enrollment of patients (n-33, mean age 9.03 years, male-33.36%), over a period from 2016 to 2021. All patients received tablets of the original CPF drug Cyprobay&reg; at a dose of 16.5 mg/kg to 28.80 mg/kg. Blood sampling schedule: 0 (before taking the drug), 1.5 h; 3.0 h; 4.5 h; 6.0 h; 7.5 h after the first dosing. CPF serum concentrations were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The genotype of biotransformation enzymes was studied using total DNA isolated from whole blood leukocytes by the standard method. (4) Results: a possible relationship between the CA genotype of the CYP2C9 gene (c.1075A &gt; C), the GG genotype of the CYP2D6*4 gene (1846G &gt; A), the AG genotype of the GSTP1 gene (c.313A &gt; G), the GCLC* genotype 7/7 and the CPF concentration in plasma (increased value of the area under the concentration&ndash;time curve) was established. Conclusions: Gene polymorphism of biotransformation enzymes may affect ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics in children

SPECIFICS OF ELABORATING METHODOLOGY TO TEACH INNOVATIVE COMPETENCE USING EMBEDDABLE MODULE

Introduction: the article is concerned with the development of competence when teaching students innovative activity. The analysis of bachelor’s degree programmes in engineering and technology demonstrates the absence of competencies for innovation training. The curricula of the Russian universities do not contain any academic disciplines for teaching innovation as well as there is no definition of “engineering activities”, and “innovation”. Nethertheless the qualification requirements describe some separate components such as R&D, implementation and use of technical and technological innovations implying management of intellectual activity and its results for all occupations, hence mandatory training of bachelor degree students in innovative activities. Materials and Methods: the authors used: a) theoretical methods: analysis of philosophical, scientific, technical, engineering, psychological and educational literature; analysis and extrapolation of the research results and teaching experience; modeling of pedagogical situations, analysis of educational standards, foreign and domestic programs of technical training, textbooks and manuals; b) scientific methods: generalization, classification, ordering, compare, comparison, modeling; c) methods of special research: a system-element method, system-structural and system-functional analysis of the training content, analysis and generalization of pedagogical experience in teaching courses at universities; d) experimental and psychology diagnostic methods. Results: the authors developed and implemented the method of teaching engineering students innovative activities based on adding flexible module to core curriculum, a case study of the National Research Mordovia State University. Discussion and Conclusions: the results of the research underscore the significance of the innovation competence by including innovative training module into structure of technical disciplines, as well as specify the structure, the core part, invariable and variable parts. The article reveals the potential of such integration in training students in innovative engineering activities within the core teaching methodology

Mechanism of Response of Alveolar Macrophages in Wistar Rats to the Composition of Atmospheric Suspensions

Atmospheric air quality is a crucial factor in the health of human populations. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) is one of the most dangerous components polluting urban air. The aim of the present article is to study the effect of model suspensions (MS) of SPM that are characteristic of the composition of atmospheric air at locations with various anthropogenic loads on redox processes in alveolar macrophages (AM). Atmospheric air sampling was carried out in the breathing zone according to the method developed by one of the authors. AM were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of experimental animals. The MS of SPM were prepared in accordance with the actual air pollution: MS No. 1 corresponded to an area with a low man-made load, and MS No. 2 corresponded to an area with a high man-made load. Load tests with model suspensions were carried out for 2 days. Parameters of oxidant processes and antioxidant system (AOS) were determined in cells and culture media. The proportion of the influence of the qualitative and dispersed composition of MS and the indicator of intra-system tension were calculated based on correlation dependencies. The atmospheric air with a high man-made load was dominated by particles up to 10 µm, whereas air with an insignificant man-made load contained SPM of more than 10 µm in size. Unidirectional changes were observed due to an exposure to both model suspensions, but the most pronounced oxidative modifications of lipids, proteins and genetic structures were caused by the exposure to MS No. 2. When exposed to MS No. 1, the AOS maintained the redox balance at the physiological level, localizing the resulting destruction inside the cells. MS No. 2 caused the redox balance to shift towards oxidants, potentiating the generalization of the destruction process. An increase in the content or a longer stress-inducing effect of PM2.5 causes a depletion in the reserve capacity of the AOS and the transition of destruction processes to the systemic level, which contributes to the development of the preconditions for environmentally dependent pathology

Mechanism of Response of Alveolar Macrophages in Wistar Rats to the Composition of Atmospheric Suspensions

Atmospheric air quality is a crucial factor in the health of human populations. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) is one of the most dangerous components polluting urban air. The aim of the present article is to study the effect of model suspensions (MS) of SPM that are characteristic of the composition of atmospheric air at locations with various anthropogenic loads on redox processes in alveolar macrophages (AM). Atmospheric air sampling was carried out in the breathing zone according to the method developed by one of the authors. AM were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of experimental animals. The MS of SPM were prepared in accordance with the actual air pollution: MS No. 1 corresponded to an area with a low man-made load, and MS No. 2 corresponded to an area with a high man-made load. Load tests with model suspensions were carried out for 2 days. Parameters of oxidant processes and antioxidant system (AOS) were determined in cells and culture media. The proportion of the influence of the qualitative and dispersed composition of MS and the indicator of intra-system tension were calculated based on correlation dependencies. The atmospheric air with a high man-made load was dominated by particles up to 10 &micro;m, whereas air with an insignificant man-made load contained SPM of more than 10 &micro;m in size. Unidirectional changes were observed due to an exposure to both model suspensions, but the most pronounced oxidative modifications of lipids, proteins and genetic structures were caused by the exposure to MS No. 2. When exposed to MS No. 1, the AOS maintained the redox balance at the physiological level, localizing the resulting destruction inside the cells. MS No. 2 caused the redox balance to shift towards oxidants, potentiating the generalization of the destruction process. An increase in the content or a longer stress-inducing effect of PM2.5 causes a depletion in the reserve capacity of the AOS and the transition of destruction processes to the systemic level, which contributes to the development of the preconditions for environmentally dependent pathology

New group of transmembrane proteins associated with desiccation tolerance in the anhydrobiotic midge Polypedilum vanderplanki

Abstract Larvae of the sleeping chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki are known for their extraordinary ability to survive complete desiccation in an ametabolic state called “anhydrobiosis”. The unique feature of P. vanderplanki genome is the presence of expanded gene clusters associated with anhydrobiosis. While several such clusters represent orthologues of known genes, there is a distinct set of genes unique for P. vanderplanki. These include Lea-Island-Located (LIL) genes with no known orthologues except two of LEA genes of P. vanderplanki, PvLea1 and PvLea3. However, PvLIL proteins lack typical features of LEA such as the state of intrinsic disorder, hydrophilicity and characteristic LEA_4 motif. They possess four to five transmembrane domains each and we confirmed membrane targeting for three PvLILs. Conserved amino acids in PvLIL are located in transmembrane domains or nearby. PvLEA1 and PvLEA3 proteins are chimeras combining LEA-like parts and transmembrane domains, shared with PvLIL proteins. We have found that PvLil genes are highly upregulated during anhydrobiosis induction both in larvae of P. vanderplanki and P. vanderplanki-derived cultured cell line, Pv11. Thus, PvLil are a new intriguing group of genes that are likely to be associated with anhydrobiosis due to their common origin with some LEA genes and their induction during anhydrobiosis