Optical diagnostics of bile duct tissues state with tumor compression

The paper presents the results of in vivo experimental measurements of the endogenous fluorescence and blood perfusion in common bile duct tissues in obstructive jaundice patients during minimally invasive surgical operations. Nowadays the type of interventions become more widespread for treating hepatopancreatobiliary pathologies. An effective feedback which can be established by one or more optical diagnostic channels integrated into the standard instruments for minimally invasive manipulations would be of particular value to practical surgeons. To collect reference data, an experimental study has been conducted using a fiber optical probe with fluorescence spectroscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry channels. For every measurement, the areas of interest were different areas of common bile duct obstructed by a malignant tumor. Obtained results demonstrated significant variety registered intensities of fluorescence spectra and values of blood perfusion. Tested fiber optical endoscopic system showed sensitivity to the tissue state in the investigated area, so the two modal approach seems to be promising for further research and implementation in clinical practice

Значение аутоиммунных механизмов в патогенезе первичной открытоугольной глаукомы

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of cytokines IL-17, IL-6, TGF-B1 and TGF-B3 in the immune response in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: Using specific ELISA test systems «R&D Diagnostics Inc.» (USA), we investigated blood serum and tear fluid of 110 subjects (80 POAG patients and 30 healthy subjects). Mean age was 57.0±3.2 years (78 years in women and 37 - in men). From 42 patients diagnosed with glaucoma, 38 had advanced and terminal stages. Patients were subdivided into 2 subgroups: with POAG only and POAG combined with chronic pathology (hypertensive disease, type 2 diabetes, myopia). RESULTS: All patients demonstrated high levels of IL-17, IL-6 and low levels of TGF-B1 and TGF-B3 in blood serum and lacrimal fluid. The study revealed varied changes in inves- tigated biological fluids. Thus, IL-6 production was higher in the systemic circulation compared to the local, while the production of IL-17, on the contrary, was higher in the lacrimal fluid. Anterior chamber examination also revealed high local hypercytokinemia (IL-6, IL-17). Reduced concentration of the TGF-B cytokine group may be associated either with its utilization during hyperergic inflammatory reactions or with insufficient response. Similar immunological changes were also observed in the combined pathology subgroup (POAG with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, myopia) due to the similarity in the pathogeneses of these diseases: genetic, vascular, neuroendocrine.ЦЕЛЬ. Оценка роли цитокинов IL-17, IL-6, TGF-|31 и TGF-(33 в иммунном ответе у больных первичной открыто-угольной глаукомой (ПОУГ). МЕТОДЫ. Был применен ИФА с использованием специфических тест-систем «R&D Diagnostics Inc.» (USA). Исследована сыворотка крови и слезная жидкость у 110 человек (80 пациентов с ПОУГ и 30 практически здоровых лиц). Средний возраст составил 57,0±3,2 года (78 лет у женщин и 37 - у мужчин). У 42 пациентов диагностирована начальная и развитая стадии глаукомы, у 38 - далеко-зашедшая и терминальная стадии. Выделены подгруппы пациентов только с ПОУГ и ПОУГ с наличием сочетанной хронической патологии (гипертонической болезни (ГБ), сахарного диабета 2 типа (СД), миопии). РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. У всех больных отмечены высокие уровни IL-17, IL-6 и низкие TGF-P1 и TGF-P3 как в сыворотке крови, так и в слезной жидкости. Степень изменений в двух биологических жидкостях характеризовалась раз- нонаправленностью. Так, продукция IL-6 была выше в системном кровотоке по сравнению с локальной, а продукция IL-17, напротив, доминировала в слезной жидкости. Исследование влаги передней камеры также выявило высокую локальную гиперцитокинемию IL-6, IL-17. Сниженная концентрация цитокинов группы TGF-P может быть связана как с их потреблением при гиперергических воспалительных реакциях, так и недостаточностью продукции. Результаты исследований у пациентов с ПОУГ свидетельствуют об иммуноопосредованности механизмов глаукоматозного процесса. Схожие иммунологические сдвиги наблюдались также в подгруппе ПОУГ в сочетании с ГБ, СД 2 типа, миопией, что объясняется схожестью некоторых звеньев патогенеза этих заболеваний: генетических, сосудистых, нейроэндокринных

Shallow-water hydrothermal venting linked to the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum

The Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a global warming event of 5–6 °C around 56 million years ago caused by input of carbon into the ocean and atmosphere. Hydrothermal venting of greenhouse gases produced in contact aureoles surrounding magmatic intrusions in the North Atlantic Igneous Province have been proposed to play a key role in the PETM carbon-cycle perturbation, but the precise timing, magnitude and climatic impact of such venting remains uncertain. Here we present seismic data and the results of a five-borehole transect sampling the crater of a hydrothermal vent complex in the Northeast Atlantic. Stable carbon isotope stratigraphy and dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy reveal a negative carbon isotope excursion coincident with the appearance of the index taxon Apectodinium augustum in the vent crater, firmly tying the infill to the PETM. The shape of the crater and stratified sediments suggests large-scale explosive gas release during the initial phase of vent formation followed by rapid, but largely undisturbed, diatomite-rich infill. Moreover, we show that these vents erupted in very shallow water across the North Atlantic Igneous Province, such that volatile emissions would have entered the atmosphere almost directly without oxidation to CO2 and at the onset of the PETM

"Feed from the Service": Corruption and Coercion in the State-University Relations in Central Eurasia

Education in Central Eurasia has become one of the industries, most affected by corruption. Corruption in academia, including bribery, extortions, embezzlement, nepotism, fraud, cheating, and plagiarism, is reflected in the region’s media and addressed in few scholarly works. This paper considers corruption in higher education as a product of interrelations between the government and academia. A substantial block of literature considers excessive corruption as an indicator of a weak state. In contrast to standard interpretations, this paper argues that in non-democratic societies corruption is used on a systematic basis as a mechanism of direct and indirect administrative control over higher education institutions. Informal approval of corrupt activities in exchange for loyalty and compliance with the regime may be used in the countries of Central Eurasia for the purposes of political indoctrination. This paper presents the concept of corruption and coercion in the state-university relations in Central Eurasia and outlines the model which incorporates this concept and the “feed from the service” approach. It presents implications of this model for the state-university relations and the national educational systems in Central Eurasia in general and offers some suggestions on curbing corruption

Clinical forms of allergic eye manifestations: prospects of therapy

The review presents the main clinical forms of eye allergy. The modern classification of conjunctival allergic diseases (CAD) divides them into several types according to the presence or absence of proliferative changes complicated by atopic dermatitis or mechanical artifactual irritation. These include: 1) allergic conjunctivitis (AC) without proliferative changes, including seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and chronic allergic conjunctivitis, in which the symptoms persist the whole year; 2) atopic keratoconjunctivitis, a chronic allergic conjunctival disease affecting patients with atopic dermatitis, 3) spring keratoconjunctivitis with conjunctival and proliferative changes — papillary conjunctival hyperplasia with the involvement of the cornea (superficial punctate keratitis, erosion, persistent epithelial defect, sterile corneal ulceration), 4) giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) accompanied by proliferative changes in the upper lid and the arch of the conjunctiva of the eyeball, caused by mechanical irritation factors (contact lenses, eye prostheses, or surgical sutures). To treat these conditions, the following groups of medications are used: artificial tears; topical antihistamine drugs; mast cell membrane stabilizers; dualaction drugs, preferably without preservatives, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medications and vasoconstrictors having side effects. Olopatadin 1 mg/1 ml, preservative free (Olofadin -ECO), has certain advantages due to the fact that it combines antihistamine and membrane stabilizing action. Due to the presence of an antihistamine component in the composition, an acute reaction is stopped, while the effect of the drug is accumulated due to the presence of a membrane-stabilizing component. It is safe for long-term therapy

Dynamiczne modele optymalizacji inwestycji w edukację morską

The purpose of this work is modeling and analyzing economic and mathematical models to optimize the value of investments in maritime education. The conditions of world maritime labor market are presented, the tendencies of its development and their advantages are considered. The article contains a concept of dynamic models of investment’s optimization into maritime education. These models take into account the three-factorial function of supply on the market. The market equilibrium from the possible set is determined.Celem artykułu jest opracowanie oraz analiza ekonomiczno-matematycznych modeli optymalizacji inwestycji w kształcenie kadr gospodarki morskiej. Przedstawiono specyfikę światowego rynku pracy marynarzy, wskazano tendencje rozwoju tego rynku. Artykuł zawiera koncepcje dynamicznych modeli optymalizacji inwestycji w edukację morską uwzględniających trzy czynniki kształtujące rynek pracy marynarzy, w tym liczbę wykwalifikowanej kadry, zarobki i podatki. Ponadto modele te pozwalają określić poziom równowagi rynkowej w ustalonych warunkach

PROGNOSIS, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT OF DIABETIC CATARACT SURGERY POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS

Aim. To study immune and antioxidant status of diabetic cataract patients and to assess the efficacy of preoperative preparation for diabetic cataract surgery to prevent intra- and postoperative complications and the efficacy of cataract treatment in metabolic syndrome patients. Patients and methods. 136 cataract patients (272 eyes) were examined (mean age 62±3.2 years). Among these patients, women predominated (n = 74). Control group included 25 healthy volunteers (10 men and 15 women) aged 32‑56 (mean age 44.3±2.4 years) without ocular diseases (50 eyes). Two patient groups were examined. Group 1 included 78 patients (mean age 54±1.5) younger than 60 (52.5 %) with similar lens morphological changes and metabolic disorders who were diagnosed with complicated (diabetic) cataract. Group 2 included 58 patients with age-related cataract. Tear, anterior chamber (AC) humor, and blood tests were performed. Immune status, lipid peroxidation parameters in tear fluid and blood, active peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) and / or its breakdown fragments in tear fluid and AC humor were studied. In group 1 (age-related cataracts), somatic disorders were diagnosed in 4.5 % of cases, in group 2 (complicated cataracts), somatic disorders were diagnosed in 100 % of cases. Expression of protective enzymes against oxidative stress in tear fluid was studied. Activity of tear antioxidant enzymes under oxidative stress conditions in therapy and after cataract surgery was evaluated. Results. Postoperatively, increase in PRDX6 level was revealed in age-related cataract patients. The absence of phaco complications confirms these findings. In complicated (diabetic) cataracts, PRDX6 level was 6‑times less than in age-related cataracts. Conclusions. Prophylaxis of inflammatory complications in age-related cataract patients can be performed using the following schedule: 0.5 % levofloxacin 4 times daily, bromfenac once daily

THE ROLE OF INNATE IMMUNITY FACTORS IN TUMORIGENESIS PROCESS

The theory of polyetiological tumorigenesis is one of the most important theories of carcinogenesis. A great place in this theory is given to the role of inflammatory component, which is implemented via the factors of innate immunity. I.e., toll-like receptors (TLRs), chemokines and their receptors are related to innate immunity. Activation of TLRs may lead to regress or progression of cancer process. It is known that TLR3, TLR5, TLR7, TLR9 have the greatest anti-tumor effect due to the dendritic cells (DCs)-mediated activation of type I T helpers, activation of M1-type macrophages and Treg inhibition. Stimulation of TLR2 and TLR4 exerts an activating effect upon the tumor, by the MyD88 hyperactivation and secretion of IL-6 and TNFα, but exact mechanisms are not fully understood. In addition to TLRs, chemokines and their receptors have a great influence on the cancer development. It is shown that CCL2, CCL4, CCL17, CCL22 and CXCL12, which are secreted by cancer microenviroment, activate chemotaxis of tumor cells. It is also known that the chemokines activate CXCR4 and CCR7 (expressed by tumor cells) thus leading to metastasis.It is shown that there is an association between some gene polymorphisms of TLRs’, chemokines and their receptors, and development of cancer.Thus, we may conclude that the role of TLRs and chemokines is important in oncogenesis. Further study of innate immunity factors influencing tumorigenesis are important for finding new approaches to cancer therapy and new potential vaccines against cancer