Differential vaginal expression of interleukin-1 system cytokines in the presence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: The genital mycoplasmas, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis, are commonly identified in the vagina of healthy pregnant women. However, these microorganisms are the most common isolates from the amniotic fluids of women in preterm labor. The mechanisms responsible for vaginal colonization and ascent to the uterus remain undetermined. We evaluated the association between U. urealyticum and M. hominis vaginal colonization and the presence of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory interleukin-1 system components in asymptomatic pregnant women of different ethnicities. METHODS: Vaginal specimens, obtained from 224 first trimester pregnant women, were assayed for interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) concentrations by ELISA. U. urealyticum and M. hominis vaginal colonization were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Vaginal colonization with M. hominis was identified in 37 (16.5%) women, and was more prevalent in black (18.9%) and Hispanic (20.9%) than in white (4.2%) women (p = 0.01). U. urealyticum was present in 84 (37.5%) women and there was no ethnic disparity in its detection. M. hominis colonization was associated with elevated median vaginal IL-1beta concentrations in both black women (p = 0.02) and Hispanic women (p = 0.04), and was unrelated to vaginal IL-1ra concentrations. In marked contrast, U. urealyticum colonization was associated with elevations in vaginal IL-1ra levels, but not with IL-1beta concentrations, in black women (p = 0.02) and Hispanic women (p < 0.0001) and marginally in white women (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: M. hominis colonization in healthy pregnant women is associated with localized pro-inflammatory immune activation, while U. urealyticum colonization is associated with immune suppression

Hormonal parameters and embryological outcomes of in vitro fertilisation/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in women using dydrogesterone for the prevention of premature luteinizing hormone surge during ovarian stimulation

Aim. To evaluate the hormonal parameters and embryological outcomes of an ovarian stimulation protocol using dydrogesterone to prevent the premature LH surge in IVF/ICSI programmes. Materials and methods. A prospective study randomised, including 79 women with normal ovarian reserve undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI with recombinant FSH (rFSH) from Day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle. To prevent the premature LH surge, participants in Group 1 (n=38) received oral dydrogesterone 20 mg/day from the start of ovarian stimulation until the day of ovulation trigger administration. Participants in Group 2 (n=41) received a GnRH antagonist. We evaluated the starting and total dose of gonadotropins, duration of stimulation, serum levels of LH, oestradiol and progesterone on Day 1 and 6 of stimulation and the day of trigger administration, number of retrieved and mature oocytes, fertilization rate, and the number of blastocysts and cryopreserved embryos. Results. There were no significant differences in most hormonal parameters, characteristics of the ovarian stimulation and embryological outcomes between the two groups. Serum levels of progesterone in the dydrogesterone arm were higher than in the GnRH antagonist arm (2.3 nmol/l [2.03.4] vs 1.5 [1.02.4] nmol/l; p=0.026), but without any impact on the embryological outcomes. Conclusion. Prevention of premature LH surge in ovarian stimulation cycles using oral dydrogesterone may represent a convenient alternative to the conventional use of GnRH antagonists, reducing the number of required injections and potentially increasing the convenience in patients who are not planning a fresh embryo transfer

Клиническое значение микробиоты легких и опыт применения ингаляционной антибактериальной терапии у детей Омского центра муковисцидоза (серия случаев)

A growth of antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients with cystic fibrosis decreases a lung function significantly, which requires searching new, up-to-date antibiotics. Goal. An investigation of clinical and microbiological features of respiratory lesion and an assessment of elimination therapy at chronic P. aeruginosa infection in children on the example of the Regional Cystic Fibrosis Center. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of case histories of children at the Omsk Cystic Fibrosis Center (n=48) was performed, with evaluation of clinical and functional parameters depending on age and microbiological status of respiratory airways. The comparative evaluation of two drugs inhaled tobramycin Bramitob and Tobramycin-Gobbi efficiency was performed. Results. An association of microorganisms was identified from the majority of bacterial cultures of cystic fibrosis patients’ sputum (66.7%). Staphylococcus aureus (18.9%) and P. aeruginosa (16.6%) with the significant prevalence of non-mucoid forms were in the lead at the group of clinically relevant pathogens. From 2011 to 2016 amount of P. aeruginosa strains, which were sensitive to the all usable antibiotics, decreased, an especially significant decline of sensitivity was registered to amikacin (32.7%) and сiprofloxacin (48.6%). Children infected with P. aeruginosa had a lot more deviations of lung function measured by the computed bronchophonography and spirometry, they more often had changes in chest computed tomography than patients free of P. aeruginosa infection. Change from inhaled tobramycin Bramitob into inhaled tobramycin Tobramycin-Gobbi in the patients’ treatment didn’t lead to the elevation of respiratory syndrome exacerbation rates, didn’t increase requirement in the intravenous antibacterial treatment and didn’t influence to the rank of microbial colonization of sputum. Conclusion. In length of time, the increase of P. aeruginosa resistance to antipseudomonal antibiotics is observed, which makes reasonable the introduction high-concentrated forms of antibiotics. The replacement of inhaled tobramycin from Bramitob to Tobramycin-Gobbi didn’t cause the impairment of patients’ clinical and functional condition and didn’t change the microbiological status.  Актуальность. Высев антибиотикорезистентной синегнойной палочки у больных муковисцидозом значительно ухудшает функцию легких, что требует поиска новых, современных антибактериальных средств. Цель. Изучение клинико-микробиологических особенностей поражения органов дыхания и оценка эффективности элиминационной терапии при хронической синегнойной инфекции у детей на примере регионального центра муковисцидоза.Материалы и методы. Проведен ретроспективный анализ историй болезни детей Омского центра муковисцидоза (n=48) с оценкой клинических и функциональных показателей в зависимости от возраста и микробиологического статуса дыхательных путей. Дана сравнительная оценка эффективности лекарственных препаратов ингаляционного тобрамицина. Результаты. В большинстве бактериальных посевов мокроты (66,7%) больных муковисцидозом микроорганизмы высевались в ассоциации. Из клинически значимых патогенов лидировали золотистый стафилококк (18,9%) и синегнойная палочка (16,6%) со значительным преобладанием немукоидных форм. За период 2011–2016 гг. произошло снижение количества чувствительных штаммов Pseudomonas aeruginosa ко всем используемым антибиотикам, из них значимое снижение отмечено к амикацину (32,7%) и ципрофлоксацину (48,6%). У детей, инфицированных синегнойной палочкой, отмечались более выраженные отклонения в показателях функции внешнего дыхания по данным компьютерной бронхофонографии, спирометрии и чаще встречались изменения при мультиспиральной компьютерной томографии органов грудной клетки, чем у больных, свободных от синегнойной инфекции. Смена ингаляционных форм тобрамицина у некоторых больных не привела к повышению частоты обострений респираторного синдрома, не увеличила потребность в назначении внутривенной антибактериальной терапии и не повлияла на степень микробной колонизации мокроты.Заключение. В динамике отмечается рост устойчивости P. aeruginosa к антисинегнойным препаратам, что делает обоснованным внедрение высококонцентрированных ингаляционных форм антибиотиков. Замена одного ингаляционного тобрамицина на другой не вызвала ухудшения клинического и функционального состояния у 4 проанализированных пациентов и не изменила их микробиологический статус.Статья издается при поддержке компании «Генфа».Авторы заявляют об отсутствии конфликта интересов, о котором необходимо сообщить

Experimental studies of fiber concrete creep

The results of two-stage experimental studies of the strength and deformation characteristics of fibrous concrete reinforced with steel fiber. In the experiments we used steel fiber with bent ends, which practically does not form "hedgehogs", which allows to achieve an even distribution of the fiber by volume. At the first stage, the cube and prismatic strength, deformability at central compression, a number of special characteristics are determined: water absorption, frost resistance, abrasion; the optimal percentage of fiber reinforcement and the maximum size of the coarse aggregate fraction were selected. Fiber reinforcement led to an increase in the strength of concrete at compression by 1,35 times and an increase in the tensile strength at bending by 3,4 times. At the second stage, the creep of fibrous concrete and plain concrete of similar composition at different stress levels was researched. Creep curves are plotted. It is shown that the use of fiber reinforcement leads to a decrease in creep strain by 21 to 30 percent, depending on the stress level

Asymptomatic ST-depression during exercise testing in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and autonomic dysfunction

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate cardiac autonomic function as assessed by ST dynamics during and post-exercise in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Materials and methods. The study included 71 young patients with T1DM. The patients were aged 9?18 years and had no history of macrovascular disease or renal disease, including microalbuminuria. Cardiac autonomic function was assessed using cardiovascular tests and 24-h ECG monitoring with automatic calculation of QT interval and heart rate variability parameters. Each patient underwent the physical working capacity 170 test. Results. The prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) was 30.9%. The frequency of asymptomatic ST-segment depression increased during exercise in 10 (45.5%) patients with CAN (CAN+) compared with 9 (18.4%) patients without CAN (CAN-; p=0.042). During the recovery period, asymptomatic ST-segment depression was present in the first minute in 8 (36.4%) CAN+ patients compared with 1 (2%) CAN- patient (p=0.0003) and in the second minute in 5 (22.7%) CAN+ patients compared with 1 (2%) CAN- patient (p=0.0095). Conclusion. Children and adolescents with T1DM and impaired autonomic function have increased prevalence of asymptomatic ST-segment depression during and post-exercise. The presence of cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents with T1DM and CAN may contribute to the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality during adulthood in patients with T1DM