Human plague: An old scourge that needs new answers

Yersinia pestis, the bacterial causative agent of plague, remains an important threat to human health. Plague is a rodent-borne disease that has historically shown an outstanding ability to colonize and persist across different species, habitats, and environments while provoking sporadic cases, outbreaks, and deadly global epidemics among humans. Between September and November 2017, an outbreak of urban pneumonic plague was declared in Madagascar, which refocused the attention of the scientific community on this ancient human scourge. Given recent trends and plague’s resilience to control in the wild, its high fatality rate in humans without early treatment, and its capacity to disrupt social and healthcare systems, human plague should be considered as a neglected threat. A workshop was held in Paris in July 2018 to review current knowledge about plague and to identify the scientific research priorities to eradicate plague as a human threat. It was concluded that an urgent commitment is needed to develop and fund a strong research agenda aiming to fill the current knowledge gaps structured around 4 main axes: (i) an improved understanding of the ecological interactions among the reservoir, vector, pathogen, and environment; (ii) human and societal responses; (iii) improved diagnostic tools and case management; and (iv) vaccine development. These axes should be cross-cutting, translational, and focused on delivering context-specific strategies. Results of this research should feed a global control and prevention strategy within a “One Health” approach

A taxonomic backbone for the global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales

The Caryophyllales constitute a major lineage of flowering plants with approximately 12500 species in 39 families. A taxonomic backbone at the genus level is provided that reflects the current state of knowledge and accepts 749 genera for the order. A detailed review of the literature of the past two decades shows that enormous progress has been made in understanding overall phylogenetic relationships in Caryophyllales. The process of re-circumscribing families in order to be monophyletic appears to be largely complete and has led to the recognition of eight new families (Anacampserotaceae, Kewaceae, Limeaceae, Lophiocarpaceae, Macarthuriaceae, Microteaceae, Montiaceae and Talinaceae), while the phylogenetic evaluation of generic concepts is still well underway. As a result of this, the number of genera has increased by more than ten percent in comparison to the last complete treatments in the Families and genera of vascular plants” series. A checklist with all currently accepted genus names in Caryophyllales, as well as nomenclatural references, type names and synonymy is presented. Notes indicate how extensively the respective genera have been studied in a phylogenetic context. The most diverse families at the generic level are Cactaceae and Aizoaceae, but 28 families comprise only one to six genera. This synopsis represents a first step towards the aim of creating a global synthesis of the species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales integrating the work of numerous specialists around the world

Glioblastoma Multiforme Classified As Mesenchymal Subtype

ВВЕДЕНИЕ: В качестве неблагоприятных прогностических факторов при первичных глиобластомах в последнее время обсуждаются не только клинические показатели, но и различные клеточные, генетические и иммунологические маркеры. ЦЕЛЬ: Работа ставит себе целью анализировать случай с первичной мультиформенной глиобластомой и краткой выживаемостью после оперативной интер- венции, а также и определить неблагоприятные прогностические маркеры. ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЕ СЛУЧАЯ: Авторы представляют случай 71-оголетнего мужчины с доказанной мультиформенной глиобластомой и постоперативной выживаемостью в 48 дней. Из-за непродолжительной выживаемости пациент не подвергнут телегамматерапии и адювантной терапии Темозоломид- ом. С помощью молекулярно- биологических и иммунологических анализов определены транскрипционные и сывороточные уровни TNF-α, IL-6, YKL-40 и CD44. Устанавливаются экстремно высокие транскрипционные уровни генов CD44, IL-6 и YKL-40, увеличенная экспрессия TNF-α, сопровожденные повышенной сывороточной концентрацией IL-6, TNF-α и YKL-40 и пониженной сывороточной концентрацией CD44. ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ: Молекулярно-биологически

Functional morphology of heart at experimental influences and possibility of regress of destructive changes of the myocardium against introduction of preparations

Extreme influence results in marked destructive changes of cardiomyocytes, rebuilding of cardiac parenchyma and stroma with the index change in their ratio and abrupt decrease of respiratory enzyme activity. Bisaprolol leads to regress myocardial distractive changes caused by cardiac failure

Ammonites and magnetostratigraphy of the Berriasian–Valanginian boundary deposits from eastern Crimea

Euthymi, Crassicostatum and Callisto ammonite subzones, correlable with Paramimounum, Picteti, and Alpillensis subzones and probably with the Late Berriasian Otopeta Subzone of the Boissieri Standard Zone have been recognized in calcareous clays of the Berriasian-Valanginian boundary sequence in the Feodosiya district (eastern Crimea). The ammonite Leptoceras studeri (Ooster) suggests Late Berriasian to Early Valanginian age. Geomagnetic polarity indicates M16-M14r magnetozones. Therefore, the base of the Valanginian sequence in eastern Crimea should be placed within the M14r magnetozone

Russian vaccines against especially dangerous bacterial pathogens

In response to the epidemiological situation, live attenuated or killed vaccines against anthrax, brucellosis, cholera, glanders, plague and tularemia were developed and used for immunization of at-risk populations in the Former Soviet Union. Certain of these vaccines have been updated and currently they are used on a selective basis, mainly for high risk occupations, in the Russian Federation. Except for anthrax and cholera these vaccines currently are the only licensed products available for protection against the most dangerous bacterial pathogens. Development of improved formulations and new products is ongoing