Rheological properties of some complex polymers containing alicyclic structures

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.Two polyimides obtained from an alicyclic and flexible dianhydride, namely 5-(2,5-dioxotetrahydrofurfuryl)-3-methyl- 3-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid anhydride (DOCDA) and an aromatic diamines 4,4’-oxydianiline (ODA) or 4-(4-((4-(4- aminophenoxy) phenyl)sulfonyl)phenoxy (p-BAPS) were synthesized and analysed by rheological methods. The results were correlated with the chemical structure of polyimides and with other properties, such as flexibility, transparency, hydrophobicity and atomic force microscopy. It has been showed that the factors that contribute to the interactions in the polyimide systems can be controlled for improving the thermal, optical, and rheological properties, for subsequent microelectronic applications, in which relatively low permittivity and high thermal stability are required.dc201

Association phenomena in quaternized polysulfones/solvent/nonsolvent systems

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.Theoretical and experimental aspects on association phenomena generated by hydrogen bonding, dispersive and electrostatic interactions in ternary systems consisting of a proton-donor solvent (N,N-dimethylformamide or methanol), a proton-acceptor solvent (water), and a proton-acceptor polymer (polysulfone with different alkyl side chains), are investigated. In this context, binary and ternary thermodynamic interaction parameters are corrected on the basis of different association constants. Numerical values for these constants were evaluated as a function of the system composition, by mathematical simulations. As a result, mathematical simulations allow a good theoretical description of the preferential adsorption in agreement with experimental data.dc201

Влияние гиполипидемической длительной терапии на некоторые факторы риска пациентов со старым инфарктом миокарда и сахарным диабетом второго типа

Department of Chronic Heart Failure, Institute of Cardiology, Congresul III al Medicilor de Familie din Republica Moldova, 17–18 mai, 2012, Chişinău, Republica Moldova, Conferinţa Naţională „Maladii bronhoobstructive la copii”, consacrată profesorului universitar, doctor habilitat Victor Gheţeul, 27 aprilie, Chişinău, Republica MoldovaScopul studiului. Determinarea influenţei tratamentului hipolipemiant de durată asupra unor factori de risc la bolnavii cu infarct miocardic vechi şi diabet zaharat tip 2. Material şi metode În studiu au fost incluşi 54 de pacienţi cu Q-Infarct miocardic vechi şi diabet zaharat tip 2 (vârsta medie de 58,88 ± 0,92 ani), dintre care 31 de bărbaţi şi 23 de femei. Pacienţii au fost divizaţi în 2 grupuri: I grup – pacienţi cu Q-Infarct miocardic vechi şi diabet zaharat tip 2, care au administrat tratament standard şi tratament hipolipemiant cu Lovastatină (doza medie – 33,15 mg/zi), timp de 1 an, şi al II grup – pacienţi cu Q-Infarct miocardic vechi şi diabet zaharat tip 2, care au administrat numai tratament standard. Corecţia glicemiei a fost efectuată cu Glibenclamid (doza medie – 7,7 mg/zi). La toţi pacienţii a fost efectuată lipidograma (cu determinarea colesterolului total, trigliceridelor, HDL-colesterolului, LDL-colesterolului), fibrinogenul, proteina C-reactivă şi aprecierea grosimii intima-media a arterei carotide, conform metodei propuse de Pignoli. Rezultate Pacienţii cu infarct miocardic vechi şi diabet zaharat tip 2 au valori înalte ale colesterolului total, trigliceridelor, LDLcolesterolului, proteinei C-reactive şi indicele intima-media. Administrarea tratamentului hipolipemiant de durată a redus nivelul colesterolului total cu 28,41% (p < 0,01), trigliceridelor - cu 17,96 % (p < 0,05), LDL-colesterolului - cu 31,49% (p < 0,001), proteina C-reactivă - cu 18,46% (p < 0,05), fibrinogen - cu 20,41% (p < 0,01) şi indicele intima-media - cu 13,91% (p < 0,05). Pe fundal de dietă hipolipemiantă a existat o tendinţă de majorare a nivelului proteinei C-reactive, a fibrinogenului şi indicelui intima-media, dar statistic nesemnificativ. Datele sunt prezentate în tabelul. 1. Concluzie Tratamentul hipolipemiant de durată este efectiv în reducerea factorilor de risc la bolnavii cu infarct miocardic vechi şi diabet zaharat tip 2

Исследование качества жизни у больных с хронической сердечной недостаточностью ишемического происхождения с систолической дисфункцией или с сохраненной функцией левого желудочка

Institute of Cardiology, Department of Chronic Heart Failure, Congresul III al Medicilor de Familie din Republica Moldova, 17–18 mai, 2012, Chişinău, Republica Moldova, Conferinţa Naţională „Maladii bronhoobstructive la copii”, consacrată profesorului universitar, doctor habilitat Victor Gheţeul, 27 aprilie, Chişinău, Republica MoldovaThe aim of this study was to determine changes in quality of life in patients with chronic HF in relation to the degree of LV systolic dysfunction and NYHA functional class. The study included 337 patients with ischemic heart failure, functional class NYHA II and III. All patients included were Romanian-speaking. To determine the quality of life in the study population, three questionnaires were used (validated version in Romanian): Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (Minnesota LHF Q), Mac New Heart Disease HRQL questionnaire and MOS-SF-36 questionnaire, short form. It Significant differences in quality of life between groups of patients with NYHA functional class II and III were identified after the application of all three questionnaires. In groups of patients with and without LV systolic dysfunction, application of Minnesota and MacNew questionnaires did not determine significant differences between groups in quality of life indices. And, the application of the generic SF-36 questionnaire has highlighted that physical functioning and pain indices and total physical component were more favorable in patients without LV systolic dysfunction. Thus, differences of quality of life were more evident in groups of patients divided according NYHA functional class than in groups of patients with or without LV systolic dysfunction.Целью исследования было в определении качества жизни у пациентов с хронической сердечной недостаточностью (ХСН) в зависимости от степени систолической дисфункции левого желудочка и функционального класса (ФК) NYHA. В исследование было включено 337 пациентов с сердечной недостаточностью (ФК II - III NYHA) ишемического происхождения. Для определения качества жизни были использованы 3 опросника (Minnesota LHF Q, MacNew Heart Disease HRQL и MOS SF-36). Статистически достоверные различия качества жизни были определены при использовании 3 опросников в группах больных разделенных в зависимости от ФК NYHA. При использовании опросников Minnesota LHF Q и MacNew, достоверные различия качества жизни в группах с нормальной функцией ЛЖ и с систолической дисфункцией ЛЖ не были определены. При применении вопросника SF-36 было установлено, что физическое функционирование, индекс боли и общий физический компонент были более благоприятными в группе пациентов с сохраненной функцией ЛЖ. Таким образом, различия в качестве жизни были более очевидны в группе больных, разделенных в зависимости от ФК NYHA, чем в группах больных с систолической дисфункцией ЛЖ или без нее

The safety and efficacy of systemic delivery of a new liver-de-targeted TGFβ signaling inhibiting adenovirus in an immunocompetent triple negative mouse mammary tumor model

Aberrant TGFβ signaling is linked to metastasis and tumor immune escape of many cancers including metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Previously, we have found that oncolytic adenoviruses expressing a TGFβ signaling inhibitory protein (sTGFβRIIFc) induced immune activation in a mouse TNBC (4T1) immunocompetent subcutaneous model with intratumoral injection. Systemic administration of adenoviruses can be a superior route to treat mTNBC but faces the challenges of increased toxicity and viral clearance. Thus, we created a liver-de-targeted sTGFβRIIFc- and LyP-1 peptide-expressing adenovirus (mHAdLyp.sT) with enhanced breast cancer cell tropism. Its safety and immune response features were profiled in the 4T1 model. Our data showed that the systemic administration of mHAdLyp.sT resulted in reduced hepatic and systemic toxicity. mHAdLyp.sT was also effective in increasing Th1 cytokines and anti-tumor cell populations by cytokine analysis, spleen/tumor qRT-PCR, and flow cytometry. We further tested the therapeutic effects of mHAdLyp.sT alone and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). mHAdLyp.sT alone and with all ICI combinations elicited significant inhibition of lung metastasis by histological analysis. When mHAdLyp.sT was combined with both anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, primary 4T1 tumor growth was also significantly inhibited. We are confident in advancing this new treatment option for mTNBC

Исследование психометрических качеств опросников Minnesota LHF Q, MacNew Heart Disease HRQL и MOS SF-36 у больных с хронической сердечной недостаточностью ишемического происхождения

Department of Chronic Heart Failure, Institute of Cardiology, State University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Nicolae Testemitanu”, Chisinau, Republic of MoldovaUntil now there have not been validated instruments that assess the quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease in the Republic of Moldova. The 6 stages of Minnesota LHF Q, MacNew Heart Disease HRQL and MOS SF-36 questionnaires were validated, followed by a pilot study – 337 patients with ischemic chronic heart failure in II-III NYHA functional classes. To determine the psychometric qualities of the questionnaires we performed a test-retest method looking at correlations between the components of the questionnaires and quality of life indices, which were analyzed according to the age, sex, living environment, and studies. Our results demonstrated the questionnaires’ reliability and validity through the indication of linguistic validation that had been carried out successfully. Thus, it can be a methodological basis for future clinical trials in the Republic of Moldova.В настоящее время в Республике Молдова инструменты для оценки качества жизни пациентов с сердечно-сосудистой патологией не валидированы. Нами были выполнены все 6 этапов валидации трёх опросников (Minnesota LHF Q, MacNew Heart Disease HRQL и MOS SF36), с последующим проведением пилотного исследования – 337 пациентов с сердечной недостаточностью (ФК II-III NYHA) ишемического происхождения. Чтобы определить психометрические качества опросников было проведено двойное тестирование пациентов, корреляции между компонентами опросников, были проанализированы параметры качества жизни в зависимости от возраста, пола, условий жизни, наличия высшего образования. Полученные результаты продемонстрировали надежность и валидность опросников. Таким образом, проведение данной валидации составит методологическую основу для последующего проведения в нашей стране сравнимых клинических исследований в области кардиологии

NANOTUBES BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE IN MEDIA WITH HIGH SALT CONCENTRATION

ABSTRAC

Сравнительная оценка структуры заболеваемости студентов I курса Государственного Медицинского и Фармацевтического Университета им. Н. A. Тестемицану

Department of Family Medicine and Laboratory of Genetics, Nicolae Testemiţanu State Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Congresul III al Medicilor de Familie din Republica Moldova, 17–18 mai, 2012, Chişinău, Republica Moldova, Conferinţa Naţională „Maladii bronhoobstructive la copii”, consacrată profesorului universitar, doctor habilitat Victor Gheţeul, 27 aprilie, Chişinău, Republica MoldovaThe purpose of this work was to comparatively evaluate the morbidity spectrum of the first year students of the SMPhU ”Nicolae Testemiţanu” enrolled in 2002-2004 and 2010-2011. Materials and methods: the data of medical examination performed at the University Clinic of Primary Care were analyzed in order to estimate the morbidity spectra. Results: the comparative analysis of the health status of students revealed an increase of students being “sick” from 24.0% in 2002-2004 to 35.0% in 2010-2011. The comparative analysis of morbidity spectra denotes a significant increase in proportions of eye pathology, pathologies of urinary and digestive tracts and endocrine system in the morbidity structure during 2002-2011 period. Conclusions: our data support the need of medical examination of first-year students in order to identify the existing chronic pathologies, proper treatment, and monitoring their diseases during the academic years.Целью настоящей работы была сравнительная оценка структуры заболеваемости студентов первого курса Государственного Медицинского и Фармацевтического Университета имени „Николая Тестемицану”, поступивших на учебу в 2002-2004 и 2010-2011 годы. Материал и методы: результаты медицинского осмотра студентов первого курса 2002-2004 и 2010-2011 годов поступления, для определения спектра заболеваемости. Результаты: сравнительный анализ состояния здоровья студентов показал увеличение группы студентов «больных» от 24,0% в 2002-2004 гг. до 35,0% в 2010-2011 гг. В структуре заболеваемости за период 2002-2011 годы произошло значительное увеличение доли глазной патологии, патологии мочеполового, пищеварительного трактов и эндокринной системы. Выводы: Для выявления существующих хронических заболеваний, своевременного их лечения и мониторинга динамики состояния здоровья студентов во время учебы, необходимо проведение медицинского осмотра студентов на первом курсе

The Human Homologue of Macaque Area V6A

In macaque monkeys, V6A is a visuomotor area located in the anterior bank of the POs, dorsal and anterior to retinotopically-organized extrastriate area V6 (Galletti et al 1996). Unlike V6, V6A represents both contra- and ipsilateral visual fields and is broadly retinotopically organized (Galletti et al 1999b). The contralateral lower visual field is over-represented in V6A. The central 20°-30° of the visual field are mainly represented dorsally (V6Ad) and the periphery ventrally (V6Av), at the border with V6. Both sectors of area V6A contain arm movement-related cells, active during spatially-directed reaching movements (Gamberini et al., 2011). In humans, we previously mapped the retinotopic organization of area V6 (Pitzalis et al., 2006). Here, using phase-encoded fMRI, cortical surface-based analysis and wide-field retinotopic mapping, we define a new cortical region that borders V6 anteriorly and shows a clear over-representation of the contralateral lower visual field and of the periphery. As with macaque V6A, the eccentricity increases moving ventrally within the area. The new region contains a non-mirror-image representation of the visual field. Functional mapping reveals that, as in macaque V6A, the new region, but not the nearby area V6, responds during finger pointing and reaching movements. Based on similarity in position, retinotopic properties, functional organization and relationship with the neighbouring extrastriate visual areas, we propose that the new cortical region is the human homologue of macaque area V6A

Testing the potential of a virtual reality neurorehabilitation system during performance of observation, imagery and imitation of motor actions recorded by wireless functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

Background Several neurorehabilitation strategies have been introduced over the last decade based on the so-called simulation hypothesis. This hypothesis states that a neural network located in primary and secondary motor areas is activated not only during overt motor execution, but also during observation or imagery of the same motor action. Based on this hypothesis, we investigated the combination of a virtual reality (VR) based neurorehabilitation system together with a wireless functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) instrument. This combination is particularly appealing from a rehabilitation perspective as it may allow minimally constrained monitoring during neurorehabilitative training. Methods fNIRS was applied over F3 of healthy subjects during task performance in a virtual reality (VR) environment: 1) 'unilateral' group (N = 15), contralateral recording during observation, motor imagery, observation & motor imagery, and imitation of a grasping task performed by a virtual limb (first-person perspective view) using the right hand; 2) 'bilateral' group (N = 8), bilateral recording during observation and imitation of the same task using the right and left hand alternately. Results In the unilateral group, significant within-condition oxy-hemoglobin concentration Δ[O2Hb] changes (mean ± SD μmol/l) were found for motor imagery (0.0868 ± 0.5201 μmol/l) and imitation (0.1715 ± 0.4567 μmol/l). In addition, the bilateral group showed a significant within-condition Δ[O2Hb] change for observation (0.0924 ± 0.3369 μmol/l) as well as between-conditions with lower Δ[O2Hb] amplitudes during observation compared to imitation, especially in the ipsilateral hemisphere (p < 0.001). Further, in the bilateral group, imitation using the non-dominant (left) hand resulted in larger Δ[O2Hb] changes in both the ipsi- and contralateral hemispheres as compared to using the dominant (right) hand. Conclusions This study shows that our combined VR-fNIRS based neurorehabilitation system can activate the action-observation system as described by the simulation hypothesis during performance of observation, motor imagery and imitation of hand actions elicited by a VR environment. Further, in accordance with previous studies, the findings of this study revealed that both inter-subject variability and handedness need to be taken into account when recording in untrained subjects. These findings are of relevance for demonstrating the potential of the VR-fNIRS instrument in neurofeedback applications