STOMATOLOGICAL/DENTAL FEATURES OF VITAMIN D RESISTANT AND VITAMIN D DEPENDENT RICKETS

The aim of the study is an investigation of stomatological/dental characteristics at vitamin D resistant and vitamin D dependent rickets. Materials and methods: The study was based on the results obtained after investigation of 13 patients 0-18 of ages with D vitamin resistant rickets (I group) and 68 patients with D vitamin-dependent rickets (II group) and 61 children of control group. Physical development, dental status and biochemical features of the mentioned children have been studied. Methods of the study: anamnesis, clinical examination, X-ray examination, blood and urine biochemical analysis. Quantity data were compared according to - t (student) criteria and qualitative data – according to - F (fisher) criteria. Clinical data were processed with statistical programs package SPSS 22. Results: The incidence rates of insufficient physical development (physical retardation), body constitutional disorder, jaw shape, occlusion and teeth constitutional anomalies as well as delayed teeth eruption are significantly higher at vitamin D resistant rickets in comparison with vitamin D-dependent rickets and control group. The incidence rate of enamel hypoplasia in group of vitamin D resistant rickets is 0.69, vitamin D dependent group - 0.07(p>0.000) and control group – 0,03( p>0.000), respectively, the rate of periapical abscesses with canal orifice – in group of vitamin D-resistant rickets equals to 0.31, vitamin D-dependent group – 0.06(p=0.054), and control group - 0.10(p=0.0457), respectively, which is significantly higher in comparison with the dependent rickets and control groups. Among the children with vitamin D resistant rickets, average caries intensity (DMF) index and average PMA index p>0.05 are reliably higher in comparison with vitamin D dependent rickets. Tubular phosphate reabsorption reveals positive correlation with DMF index – r =0.57, p = 0.0380; PMA index - r=0.84, p=0.0003; reduction of tubular phosphate reabsorption correlates with caries r=0.6770, p=0.0110; pulpitis r =0.6770, p =0.0110; periodontitis r=0.6770, p=0.0110. Conclusion: At vitamin D resistant rickets the dental anomalies, being in correlation with metabolic disorder, occur

STOMATOLOGICAL/DENTAL FEATURES OF VITAMIN D RESISTANT AND VITAMIN D DEPENDENT RICKETS

The aim of the study is an investigation of stomatological/dental characteristics at vitamin D resistant and vitamin D dependent rickets. Materials and methods: The study was based on the results obtained after investigation of 13 patients 0-18 of ages with D vitamin resistant rickets (I group) and 68 patients with D vitamin-dependent rickets (II group) and 61 children of control group. Physical development, dental status and biochemical features of the mentioned children have been studied. Methods of the study: anamnesis, clinical examination, X-ray examination, blood and urine biochemical analysis. Quantity data were compared according to - t (student) criteria and qualitative data – according to - F (fisher) criteria. Clinical data were processed with statistical programs package SPSS 22. Results: The incidence rates of insufficient physical development (physical retardation), body constitutional disorder, jaw shape, occlusion and teeth constitutional anomalies as well as delayed teeth eruption are significantly higher at vitamin D resistant rickets in comparison with vitamin D-dependent rickets and control group. The incidence rate of enamel hypoplasia in group of vitamin D resistant rickets is 0.69, vitamin D dependent group - 0.07(p>0.000) and control group – 0,03( p>0.000), respectively, the rate of periapical abscesses with canal orifice – in group of vitamin D-resistant rickets equals to 0.31, vitamin D-dependent group – 0.06(p=0.054), and control group - 0.10(p=0.0457), respectively, which is significantly higher in comparison with the dependent rickets and control groups. Among the children with vitamin D resistant rickets, average caries intensity (DMF) index and average PMA index p>0.05 are reliably higher in comparison with vitamin D dependent rickets. Tubular phosphate reabsorption reveals positive correlation with DMF index – r =0.57, p = 0.0380; PMA index - r=0.84, p=0.0003; reduction of tubular phosphate reabsorption correlates with caries r=0.6770, p=0.0110; pulpitis r =0.6770, p =0.0110; periodontitis r=0.6770, p=0.0110. Conclusion: At vitamin D resistant rickets the dental anomalies, being in correlation with metabolic disorder, occur

Paper like cholesteric interferential mirror

A new type of flexible cholesteric liquid crystal mirror is presented. The simple and effective method for the deposition of a cholesteric mixture on a paper substrate and the particular design of the device give a homogeneous alignment of the cholesteric texture providing mirrors with an intense and uniform light reflectance. A desired polarization state for the reflected light, linear or circular, can be easily obtained varying the thickness and optical anisotropy of the polymer cover film. By using non-azobenzene based photosensitive materials a permanent array of RGB mirrors with high reflectivity can be obtained on the same device. Paper like reflective mirrors are versatile and they can find applications in reflective displays, adaptive optics, UV detectors and dosimeters, information recording, medicine and IR converters

Epigenetic silencing of MLH1 as a prognostic factor for endometrial cancer recurrence

Introduction/Background Aberrant DNA methylation is a common phenomenon in different types of cancer, but its patterns, causes, and consequences are poorly defined. Promoter hypermethylation of the DNA mismatch repair (MLH1) has been implicated in prognosis of endometrial cancer (EC). Methodology Fifty women diagnosed with endometrioid-type endometrial adenocarcinoma from 2018–2021 at the Institute of Oncology of Moldova were included in this study. DNA was isolated from plasma, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor. The methylation status of the MLH1 gene was determined using the Methylation specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (MS-PCR) method and specific primers for both unmethylated and methylated fragments. (figure 1). Results Clinical and pathological characteristics for the 50 endometrial cancer patients are summarized in table 1. The mean age of the cohort was 59,9 ± 0,64 years (range, 39–87), and most of the patients had early stage (Stage I or II), grade 2 tumors with less than 50% myometrial invasion. The mean tumor size was 4,2 cm and the mean depth of invasion 0,5cm. Myometrial lymphatic/vascular space and perineural invasion was present in nearly half the tumors and was much more common in stage II cases. Overall, 80% of the patients with EC had intact tumors, while 20% had hypermethylation of MLH1 (table 2). The presence of MLH1 epimutation was observed in 22.0% of EC patients in stage I and only in 2 patients in stage II. Conclusion Recent developments in the field of epigenetics, especially studies of DNA methylation, have provided valuable insights for understanding the role of epigenetic alterations in normal cellular processes and abnormal changes leading to endometrial carcinogenesis. Promoter hypermethylation of MLH1 displayed a direct correlation with increasing age, poor differentiation of tumor, presence of myometral and limphovascular invasion. These phenotypes may underlie the different developmental pathways that are known to occur in endometrial cancer.peer-reviewe

Analysis of the molecular profile of endometrial cancer depending on microsatelite instability

Introduction/Background MLH1 is the MMR gene most frequently mutated or epimutated in endometrial cancer and its hypermethylation is found in the vast majority of MMR-deficient EC cases. The high rate of raw data accumulation with reference to cancer genomics as well as the development of bioinformatics algorithms necessary for the re-analysis of cohorts are key elements for obtaining new smart data. Methodology In the present study we aimed to re-analyze a set of genomic data obtained by sequencing 197 EC samples and downloaded from the public database cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics - Endometrial Cancer (MSK, 2018). The aim of the research was to separate the genomic data into two cohorts based on the presence or absence of microsatellite instability and analyze the molecular profile of these cohorts. Results As a result, two sets of data were obtained: SM (Microsatellite Stability) – 153 samples IM (Microsatellite Instability) – 25 samples In the MS cohort, an almost 2-fold higher frequency of changes in the tumor suppressor TP53 is observed, while in IM – a considerably increased rate of PTEN, ARID1A, MLL2, JAK1, POLE, MLH1, MSH6, MSH2 and PMS1 mutations (figure 1). SNV (Single Nucleotide Variation) classes in the IM group compared to SM have higher rates of T>C transitions that are associated with mutational signature no. 5 and lower C>G transversions - markers of signature 13 (figure 2). TMB in the two study groups revealed an index of less than 10 mut/Mb in MS and more than 10 mut/Mb in MI (figure 3). Conclusion Comparative analysis of molecular data in the two subtypes of CE reveals major differences in the mutational profile. A higher frequency of deletions with the displacement of the reading frame is observed in the SI cohort. TMB index in IM reveals tumors with MI have a better response to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.peer-reviewe

Home-based hepatitis C self-testing in people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men in Georgia: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Globally, it is estimated that more than three-quarters of people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unaware of their HCV status. HCV self-testing (HCVST) may improve access and uptake of HCV testing particularly among key populations such as people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM) where HCV prevalence and incidence are high and barriers to accessing health services due to stigma and discrimination are common. Methods and analysis This randomised controlled trial compares an online programme offering oral fluid-based HCVST delivered to the home with referral to standard-of-care HCV testing at HCV testing sites. Eligible participants are adults self-identifying as either MSM or PWID who live in Tbilisi or Batumi, Georgia, and whose current HCV status is unknown. Participants will be recruited through an online platform and randomised to one of three arms for MSM (courier delivery, peer delivery and standard-of-care HCV testing (control)) and two for PWID (peer delivery and standard-of-care HCV testing (control)). Participants in the postal delivery group will receive an HCVST kit delivered by an anonymised courier. Participants in the peer delivery groups will schedule delivery of the HCVST by a peer. Control groups will receive information on how to access standard-of-care testing at a testing site. The primary outcome is the number and proportion of participants who report completion of testing. Secondary outcomes include the number and proportion of participants who (a) receive a positive result and are made aware of their status, (b) are referred to and complete HCV RNA confirmatory testing, and (c) start treatment. Acceptability, feasibility, and attitudes around HCV testing and cost will also be evaluated. The target sample size is 1250 participants (250 per arm)

The influence of media on democratic attitudes and behaviour in post-Soviet Georgia

Using a 'plausibility probe' construct, this study empirically evaluates the direct role of media in a democratic transition by examining the relationship between media use in different media environments and the effects of particular media usage on the development of democratic political culture across time in a post-Soviet republic. The study employs a participatory- deliberative theoretical model of democracy and the concept of political culture as comprised by the distribution of political attitudes and behaviour within a society. The study consists of three principal elements: a qualitative media mapping exercise, a quantitative longitudinal analysis of attitudes and behaviour, and a qualitative and quantitative experimental research component. For the qualitative media mapping exercise, I conducted in depth expert interviews to characterize and define different media environments. For the quantitative longitudinal analysis, I operationalized a diverse set of dependent variables as measures of democratic attitudes and behaviour and assessed the independent effects of the use ot'different media types across these defined media environments through bivariate and multivariate regression models during the 1996-2007 period. For the quantitative and qualitative experimental research component, I examined in a natural setting the causal ability of controlled media exposure to bring about attitudinal change in the core democratic value of tolerance and I evaluated the stability of this effect over time. The results of the study present evidence in support of the hypothesized relationship between media use during horizontally diverse media environments and the development of democratic attitudes and behaviour and demonstrate the causal ability of specific forms of media use to change a core democratic value. As a plausibility probe, these findings validate expectations in this 'most likely case,' justify further research on the relationship of media use to political culture in democratic transitions, and suggest the need for further theory development.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Age-related behavioral and ultrastructural changes in the rat amygdala

Although the relationships between brain structure and emotions may alter across the life span, this relationship is of particular importance during aging when significant alterations in emotions may be manifested. Understanding the structural–behavioral relationship could not only provide a neurobiological basis of these changes, but could also suggest potential intervention. Since anxiety is commonly observed in aging population, we undertook this study to determine the extent of this behavioral manifestations as well as the associated ultrastructural changes in the amygdala. Rats of various age groups, adolescent, adult, and aged were tested for anxiety-like behavior and the ultrastructure/presynaptic architecture of the central nucleus of amygdala (CNA) were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (EM). Aged rats were consistently more anxious than the other groups as evidenced by their scores in the elevated plus maze. Morphometric EM analysis of axodendritic synapses revealed that the aged rats had a lower presynaptic area as well as number of synapses, but unexpectedly a higher number of presynaptic mitochondria in CNA. Since presynaptic mitochondria are known to provide the energy for neurotransmission, it may be concluded that compensatory mechanisms are still operational during aging, and hence, may be a target for therapeutic intervention at this stage of life span

On the Influence of Landscape on the Content of Light Aeroions In Different Regions of Georgia

The importance of study of the light ions content in the atmosphere is well known. The content of light ions in the atmosphere plays important role in molding of the physiological state of population. In this work some results of studies of the influence of landscape on the ionizing state of air environment in different regions of Georgia in recent years carried out. The data about the content of aeroions in Tbilisi and some locations of Western Georgia with different types of landscape (urban, forest, park, gorge, waterfalls, the coast of rivers, etc.) are represented. In particular, it is shown that even in the limits of the strongly contaminated city the landscape has vital importance for creating the medium ecologically favorable for human health (Tbilisi National Botanical Garden, territory of Tbilisi Sea, etc.). The results of work can find practical application for the development of health resort- tourist industry in Georgia