Ground Beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) Assemblages Features Formation in Large and Medium Industrial Cities of Russia (The Case Study in Kazan, Kemerovo and Grozny)

The article presents the results of the analysis of the Carabid fauna of three cities: Grozny, Kemerovo, Kazan. It was established that communities of ground beetles clearly respond to varying degrees of recreation by changing the biotopic distribution and ecological structure: the emergence of super dominant species, a decrease in the abundance of zoophages, an increase in the share of stratobionts, and the presence of indicator species

T-bet syndrome-associated bronchial asthma phenotype

We aimed to evaluate a significance of T-bet transcription factor in bronchial asthma (BA). A total of 102 patients with BA were examined. The control group was represented by healthy subjects (21 people). The study model was represented by peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated in a density gradient with standard method. It was found that some patients were characterized by high levels of transcription factor T-bet expression (T-bet > 1.0). The bronchial asthma patients with increased T-bet expression were moir often characterized by the severe disease, requiring therapy with systemic glucocorticoids and β2-agonists, did not have genetic predisposal for allergic diseases, the majority of them had excess body weight and concomitant morbidity (mainly, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders). The study of rs324011 polymorphism of STAT6 protein gene in these patients revealed CC and CT genotypes, mostly observed in severe BA. Moreover, they were observed in 100% patients with severe clinical course of BA. A positive correlation was found between the number of T allele presentation in loci, and BA severity (r = 0.88, p = 0.002), as well as between the distribution by genotype (CC-CT/TT), and absolute (counts per one L), and relative (%) number of eosinophils in the sputum (r = 0.79, p = 0.034). The detected associations may be referred to as “T-bet elevation syndrome”, being based on the phenomenon of “genetically determined heterogeneity of signaling system defects”. In individuals with an increased T-bet expression, a significant elevation of transcription factors STAT6 and STAT4 was also detected. Taken together, the presented data indicate that this phenomenon reflects a disturbance of the Th1 / Th2 balance, due to increase in both Th1 and Th2 transcriptional activity. Thus, the patients with bronchial asthma with increased expression of T-bet transcription factor revealed a symptom complex, which we have called “T-bet elevation syndrome” (T-bet > 1.0), which is characterized mainly by severe disease and a certain phenotype of patients. Most likely, this feature is caused by genetically determined defects of signaling systems. High T-bet expression has been observed in young patients with mild BA and can be a prognostic sign

Preserving the Memory of the Great Patriotic War: Regional Practices (1941–1945)

Поступила в редакцию: 11.06.2020. Принята к печати: 22.01.2021.Submitted: 11.06.2020. Accepted: 22.01.2021.Увековечивание подвига советского народа в годы Великой Отечественной войны посредством памятников, музейных экспозиций, художественных произведений насчитывает три четверти века. Стратегии увековечивания на различных этапах определялись устанавливаемыми «сверху» интерпретациями событий и явлений, коммеморативными практиками. В статье на основе анализа ситуации в Краснодарском крае реконструируется начальный этап мемориализации войны, механизмы формирования исторической памяти синхронно происходившим событиям. В качестве источников выступают делопроизводственная документация центральных и местных советских и партийных органов, творческих союзов, учреждений культуры, периодическая печать, мемуары, художественные тексты. Основные направления мемориализации войны соответствовали общесоюзным рекомендациям с учетом региональных особенностей. Эта работа в большей степени развернулась после освобождения края в 1943 г. Актуализировались боевые и трудовые подвиги кубанцев. Специально выделялись заслуги казачьих формирований. Информация о фактах коллаборационизма минимизировалась. Сопротивление фашизму в период оккупации Кубани было представлено партизанской темой. «Визитной карточкой» региона выступали оперативно изданные и тиражируемые в стране и за рубежом книги командира партизанского отряда П. К. Игнатова. Подвиги его погибших сыновей, Героев Советского Союза, стали хрестоматийным примером. Формировались мемориальные пространства, система учета военных памятников, картинная галерея героев, художественная летопись войны, основу которой должны были составлять победные сюжеты. Тема текущей войны пополняла репертуар профессиональных и самодеятельных художественных коллективов, экспозиции местных музеев. В календарь праздничных дат включались годовщины освобождения территорий от фашистов. Память о войне отражалась в местной топонимике.The perpetuation of the feat of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War through monuments, museum displays, and artistic texts has been going on for three-quarters of a century now. Perpetuation strategies at various stages have been determined by official interpretations of events, processes, and commemorative practices. Referring to the analysis of the situation in Krasnodar Krai, this article reconstructs the initial stage of war commemoration and the mechanisms of historical memory production that were formed synchronously with the events of 1941–1945. The sources for the reconstruction are various documents of central and local Soviet bodies and the Communist party, creative unions, cultural institutions, periodicals, memoirs, and artistic texts. The main directions of the war commemoration were the combination of all-Union recommendations as well as regional peculiarities. The work was developed mainly after the liberation of the region in 1943. Military and labour exploits of the Kuban population were actualised. The merits of the Cossack formations were specially highlighted, while information about the facts of collaboration was minimised. Resistance to fascism during the occupation of Kuban was represented by the partisan theme. The main print source of the partisan movement in the region was the books by P. K. Ignatov, commander of the partisan detachment, that were promptly published and replicated in the USSR and abroad. The exploits of his dead sons, Heroes of the Soviet Union, became a classic example. Memorial spaces, a system for recording military monuments were formed. The artistic chronicle of the war was created as a set of victorious stories. The theme of the ongoing war was added to the repertoire of professional and amateur art groups, as well as exhibitions of local museums. The calendar of holiday dates included anniversaries of the liberation of territories from the Nazis. The memory of the war was reflected in the local toponyms.Статья подготовлена в рамках выполнения государственного задания Южного филиала ФГБНИУ «Российский научно-исследовательский институт культурного и природного наследия имени Д. С. Лихачева» по теме «Монументальная политика как инструмент сохранения культурной памяти», номер государственной регистрации: АААА-А19-119050790070-1.This article was prepared as part of the state assignment by the Southern Branch of the Russian Research Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage, research topic “Monumental Politics as a Tool for Preserving Cultural Memory”, state registration number: АААА-А19-119050790070-1

EXPRESSION OF FoxP3 TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR IN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Forty-two patients with allergic bronchial asthma (ABA) forty persons with non-allergic bronchial asthma (NABA), and 47 healthy controls were involved into the study. Expression of FoxP3 mRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR. In patients with bronchial asthma (ABA and NABA) we have revealed a significant decrease in FoxP3 mRNA expression levels, in comparison with control group. The patients with severe BA exhibited lowest levels of the FoxP3 mRNA expression as compared with other groups.We revealed a decreased FoxP3 mRNA expression in mononuclear cells from peripheral blood, and an increased IL-17 level in blood serum of patients with bronchial asthma. These results may be considered a manifestation of serious inflammatory process. Probably, the data may reflect a disregulated expression of FoxP3 transcription factor. Therefore, we may assume a key role of FoxP3 for regulation of inflammatory activity in bronchial asthma

Potential of azoximere bromide for treatment of patients with acute inflammatory and infectious upper respiratory diseases

Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Polyoxidonium® in patients with inflammatory and infectious upper respiratory diseases in real clinical practice. Materials and methods. This retrospective multicenter study included data from adults and children over 6 months old with inflammatory and infectious upper respiratory diseases (n=16 365). The exploratory endpoints included: the proportion of patients with complete relief of symptoms, demographic characteristics of patients, the frequency of prescriptions of Polyoxidonium® by disease groups, determination of the groups of concomitant drugs, most commonly prescribed treatment regimen, frequency of prescribing different Polyoxidonium® dosage forms, duration of the most common specific symptoms of acute respiratory infections during therapy, the incidence of treatment-related adverse events. Results. After treatment completion, the proportion of patients with complete relief of symptoms was 40%, with positive dynamics – 99.77%. Polyoxidonium® in combination therapy was also effective in the treatment of COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 syndrome. The median patient age was 28 years. Polyoxidonium® was most frequently prescribed for the treatment of inflammatory and infectious upper respiratory diseases in combination with antibiotics or symptomatic drugs in dosage form solution. The primary routes of administration were intranasal and sublingual. The resolution of infection symptoms occurred predominantly within the first 5 days after the initiation of therapy. The therapy appeared to be equally effective across all age groups. No Polyoxidonium®-related adverse events occurred. Conclusion. Treatment with Polyoxidonium® contributes to achieving favorable outcomes in patients with inflammatory and infectious upper respiratory diseases. The study drug has a high safety profile

Effect of particle properties of powders on the generation and transmission of raman scattering

Transmission Raman measurements of a 1 mm thick sulfur-containing disk were made at different positions as it was moved through 4 mm of aspirin (150-212 mu m) or microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) of different size ranges (<38, 53-106, and 150-212 mu m). The transmission Raman intensity of the sulfur interlayer at 218 cm(-1) was lower when the disk was placed at the top or bottom of the powder bed, compared to positions within the bed and the difference between the sulfur intensity at the outer and inner positions increased with Avicel particle size. Also, the positional intensity difference was smaller for needle-shaped aspirin than for granular Avicel of the same size. The attenuation coefficients for the propagation of the exciting laser and transmitted Raman photons through the individual powders were the same but decreased as the particle size of Avicel increased; also, the attenuation coefficients for propagation through 150-212 mu m aspirin were almost half of those through similar sized Avicel particles. The study has demonstrated that particulate size and type affect transmitted Raman intensities and, consequently, such factors need to be considered in the analysis of powders, especially if particle properties vary between the samples

Prevalence of risk factors of HIV contamination in injection drug using women in the Omsk Region

The results of an epidemiological study of risk factors of HIV infection among women, who inject drugs, are presented in this paper. Incidence of HIV among women during the period from 2005 to 2013 had a significant increasing trend from 2,1 to 63,3 per 100000 women. The predominance of parenteral transmission of HIV, as well as a significant prevalence of substance abuse disorders among women, determined a significant risk of morbidity for women with HIV infection (6,3 per 10,000 women). We included 115 women, taking injection drugs, in our study. Most of the women noted patterns of high risk HIV infection behavior, as well as the lack of knowledge about HIV prevention. 45% of women had been using drugs for 6-11 years, most of them have started using drugs at the age of 16-19 years, 40% of participants have used more than one type of drug, used common needles, syringes, together with other persons, including those with HIV infection. 23,8% of the women mentioned having unprotected sex, including sex with casual sex partners

Acute febrile illness is associated with Rickettsia spp infection in dogs

BACKGROUND: Rickettsia conorii is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and causes Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) in humans. Although dogs are considered the natural host of the vector, the clinical and epidemiological significance of R. conorii infection in dogs remains unclear. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether Rickettsia infection causes febrile illness in dogs living in areas endemic for human MSF. METHODS: Dogs from southern Italy with acute fever (n = 99) were compared with case–control dogs with normal body temperatures (n = 72). Serology and real-time PCR were performed for Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum/A. platys and Leishmania infantum. Conventional PCR was performed for Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Acute and convalescent antibodies to R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were determined. RESULTS: The seroprevalence rates at first visit for R. conorii, E. canis, A. phagocytophilum and L. infantum were 44.8%, 48.5%, 37.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The seroconversion rates for R. conorii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum were 20.7%, 14.3% and 8.8%, respectively. The molecular positive rates at first visit for Rickettsia spp., E. canis, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, L. infantum, Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. were 1.8%, 4.1%, 0%, 2.3%, 11.1%, 2.3% and 0.6%, respectively. Positive PCR for E. canis (7%), Rickettsia spp. (3%), Babesia spp. (4.0%) and Hepatozoon spp. (1.0%) were found only in febrile dogs. The DNA sequences obtained from Rickettsia and Babesia PCRs positive samples were 100% identical to the R. conorii and Babesia vogeli sequences in GenBank®, respectively. Febrile illness was statistically associated with acute and convalescent positive R. conorii antibodies, seroconversion to R. conorii, E. canis positive PCR, and positivity to any tick pathogen PCRs. Fourteen febrile dogs (31.8%) were diagnosed with Rickettsia spp. infection based on seroconversion and/or PCR while only six afebrile dogs (12.5%) seroconverted (P = 0.0248). The most common clinical findings of dogs with Rickettsia infection diagnosed by seroconversion and/or PCR were fever, myalgia, lameness, elevation of C-reactive protein, thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates acute febrile illness associated with Rickettsia infection in dogs living in endemic areas of human MSF based on seroconversion alone or in combination with PCR

Ревматические проявления гипотиреоза

The rheumatic manifestations of endocrine diseases are well-known. The endocrine system has a complex effect on the structure and function of musculoskeletal tissues. The symptoms of locomotor apparatus injuries often come to the forefront in the clinical picture of an endocrine disease. It is therefore important to put endocrine diseases, including hypothyroidism, arthropathy, myopathy, etc., in a range of differential diagnoses of musculoskeletal system lesions. It should be remembered that changes in the locomotor system are able to partially or completely regress when endocrine disorders are adequately and long compensated for. The paper describes a clinical case in which, despite an obvious diversity of the typical clinical presentations of hypothyroidism, the main complaint was pain in the joints and muscles. In this connection, the female patient was initially misdiagnosed. This could be avoided if there was alertness to endocrine arthropathies and myopathies. Ревматические проявления эндокринных заболеваний хорошо известны. Эндокринная система оказывает сложное влияние на структуру и функции костно-мышечных тканей. Часто в клинической картине эндокринного заболевания симптомы поражения опорно-двигательного аппарата выступают на первый план. Поэтому важно в круг дифференциальных диагнозов поражения костно-мышечной системы включать эндокринные, в том числе гипотиреоидные, артропатии, миопатии и др. Следует помнить, что при адекватной и длительной компенсации эндокринных расстройств, изменения со стороны опорно-двигательного аппарата способны частично или полностью регрессировать. Описано клиническое наблюдение, в котором, несмотря на очевидную разноплановость типичной клинической картины гипотиреоза, основной жалобой была боль в суставах и мышцах. В связи с этим вначале пациентке был установлен неверный диагноз. Этого можно было избежать при настороженности в плане эндокринных артропатий и миопатий.