ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ОСНОВНЫХ ПОРОДООБРАЗУЮЩИХ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ, СТРОНЦИЯ И ЦИРКОНИЯ РЕНТГЕНОФЛУОРЕСЦЕНТНЫМ МЕТОДОМ ДЛЯ ГЕОХИМИЧЕСКОЙ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ ДОННЫХ ОТЛОЖЕНИЙ

Quantitative X-ray fluorescence determination of major rock-forming oxides (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO and Fe2O3) and some microelements (Sr and Zr) was performed in the samples of 143 cm-long sediment core of Lake Baunt (Buryat Republic) by the wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis on the S8 Tiger spectrometer. Calibration curves were obtained by measuring the certified reference materials of the sedimentary rocks. Both analyzed and reference samples were prepared as glass beads by fusion of 110 mg of sample with1.1 g of lithium metaborate. We have used 110 mg mass to ensure the formation of beads with appropriate 10 to 12 mm size across to be measured by the spectrometer with8 mm mask. Rh Kα Compton line was used as a background standard for Sr and Zr determination. The repeatability did not exceed the allowable standard deviation for a wide range of concentrations. Results of major rock-forming oxides determination were compared with the data of spectrophotometry and flame photometry techniques, results of Sr and Zr determination were compared with the data of synchrotron radiation excited X-ray fluorescence technique. All results of the X-ray fluorescence analysis were accepted as satisfactory. Quantitative analysis of each centimeter of Lake Baunt sediment core allowed building first reconstructions of the local environment during the last 7000 years with unique resolution of about 100 years.Keywords: wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis, synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence analysis, sediments, paleoclimate (Russian)DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/analitika.2017.21.1.003A.A. Amosova, V.M. Chubarov,E.V. Kaneva, Iu.N. MarkovaVinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Favorsky, 1A, Irkutsk, 664033, Russian FederationМетодика, разработанная для количественного рентгенофлуоресцентного анализа малых навесок изверженных горных пород, применена для осадочных горных пород, которые существенно отличаются по химическому и минеральному составу, в частности, могут содержать более 15 % органической составляющей. Градуировочные уравнения были построены с использованием стандартных образцов континентальных рыхлых отложений, речных и морских илов и глин. Были прокалены и сплавлены в форме стеклянных дисков с метаборатом лития 143 образца керна донных отложений континентального озера Баунт (республика Бурятия). Правильность определения основных породообразующих компонентов (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, Fe2O3) и некоторых микроэлементов (Sr, Zr) рентгенофлуоресцентным методом оценена сопоставлением полученных результатов с данными анализа методами спектрофотометрии, пламенной фотометрии и рентгенофлуоресцентного анализа с возбуждением синхротронным излучением. Полученные результаты соответствуют требованиям количественного химического анализа. Рентгенофлуоресцентный анализ каждого сантиметра керна донных отложений озера Баунт позволил выявить за последние 7000 лет значительные вариации содержаний элементов, их соотношений и геохимических индексов, важных при палеоклиматических реконструкциях изменений региональных условий окружающей среды.Ключевые слова: рентгенофлуоресцентный анализ с волновой дисперсией, рентгенофлуоресцентный анализ с возбуждением синхротронным излучением, донные отложения, палеоклиматDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/analitika.2017.21.1.00

Activation of melanocortin receptors MC1 and MC5 attenuates retinal damage in experimental diabetic retinopathy

We hypothesize that melanocortin receptors (MC) could activate tissue protective circuit in a model of streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic retinopathy (DR) in mice. At 12–16 weeks after diabetes induction, fluorescein angiography (FAG) revealed an approximate incidence of 80% microvascular changes, typical of DR, in the animals, without signs of vascular leakage. Occludin progressively decreased in the retina of mice developing retinopathy. qPCR of murine retina revealed expression of two MC receptors, Mc1r and Mc5r. The intravitreal injection (5 \u1d707L) of the selective MC1 small molecule agonist BMS-470539 (33 \u1d707mol) and the MC5 peptidomimetic agonist PG-901 (7.32 nM) elicited significant protection with regular course and caliber of retinal vessels, as quantified at weeks 12 and 16 after diabetes induction. Mouse retina homogenate settings indicated an augmented release of IL-1\u1d6fc, IL-1\u1d6fd, IL-6, MIP-1\u1d6fc, MIP-2\u1d6fc, MIP-3\u1d6fc, and VEGF from diabetic compared to nondiabetic mice. Application of PG20N or AGRP and MC5 and MC1 antagonist, respectively, augmented the release of cytokines, while the agonists BMS-470539 and PG-901 almost restored normal pattern of these mediators back to nondiabetic values. Similar changes were quantified with respect to Ki-67 staining. Finally, application of MC3-MC4 agonist/antagonists resulted to be inactive with respect to all parameters under assessment

Targeted Sequencing of Candidate Regions Associated with Sagittal and Metopic Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis

Craniosynostosis (CS) is a major birth defect in which one or more skull sutures fuse prematurely. We previously performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for sagittal nonsyndromic CS (sNCS), identifying associations downstream from BMP2 on 20p12.3 and intronic to BBS9 on 7p14.3; analyses of imputed variants in DLG1 on 3q29 were also genome-wide significant. We followed this work with a GWAS for metopic non-syndromic NCS (mNCS), discovering a significant association intronic to BMP7 on 20q13.31. In the current study, we sequenced the associated regions on 3q29, 7p14.3, and 20p12.3, including two candidate genes (BMP2 and BMPER) near some of these regions in 83 sNCS child-parent trios, and sequenced regions on 7p14.3 and 20q13.2-q13.32 in 80 mNCS child-parent trios. These child-parent trios were selected from the original GWAS co-horts if the probands carried at least one copy of the top associated GWAS variant (rs1884302 C allele for sNCS; rs6127972 T allele for mNCS). Many of the variants sequenced in these targeted regions are strongly predicted to be within binding sites for transcription factors involved in crani-ofacial development or bone morphogenesis. Variants enriched in more than one trio and predicted to be damaging to gene function are prioritized for functional studies

CENTRE OF ISOTOPIC AND GEOCHEMICAL RESEARCH (IGC SB RAS): CURRENT STATE OF MICRO- AND MACROANALYSIS

Centre of Isotopic and Geochemical Research based on the Analytical Department of Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry SB RAS (Irkutsk) performs a wide range of analytical studies to solve mineralogical and petrological, geochemical, prospecting, ecological, paleoclimatic and applied problems. The studies are supported by the modern equipment for electron microprobe, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, atomic emission and mass spectrometric (including isotope) analyses, as well as the necessary international certified reference materials (SRM) and a collection of SRM of the natural and technogenic composition of our production

Developing and Piloting a Standardized European Protocol for Hepatitis C Prevalence Surveys in the General Population (2016-2019)

Funding Information: This work was funded by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) through a contract. Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Sperle, Nielsen, Bremer, Gassowski, Brummer-Korvenkontio, Bruni, Ciccaglione, Kaneva, Liitsola, Naneva, Perchemlieva, Spada, Toikkanen, Amato-Gauci, Duffell and Zimmermann.Background: A robust estimate of the number of people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is essential for an appropriate public health response and for monitoring progress toward the WHO goal of eliminating viral hepatitis. Existing HCV prevalence studies in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries are heterogeneous and often of poor quality due to non-probability based sampling methods, small sample sizes and lack of standardization, leading to poor national representativeness. This project aimed to develop and pilot standardized protocols for undertaking nationally representative HCV prevalence surveys in the general adult population. Methods: From 2016 to 2019 a team from the Robert Koch-Institute contracted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control synthesized evidence on existing HCV prevalence surveys and survey methodology and drafted a protocol. The methodological elements of the protocol were piloted and evaluated in Bulgaria, Finland and Italy, and lessons learnt from the pilots were integrated in the final protocol. An international multidisciplinary expert group was consulted regularly. Results: The protocol includes three alternative study approaches: a stand-alone survey; a "nested" survey within an existing health survey; and a retrospective testing survey approach. A decision algorithm advising which approach to use was developed. The protocol was piloted and finalized covering minimum and gold standards for all steps to be implemented from sampling, data protection and ethical issues, recruitment, specimen collection and laboratory testing options, staff training, data management and analysis and budget considerations. Through piloting, the survey approaches were effectively implemented to produce HCV prevalence estimates and the pilots highlighted the strengths and limitations of each approach and key lessons learnt were used to improve the protocol. Conclusions: An evidence-based protocol for undertaking HCV prevalence serosurveys in the general population reflecting the different needs, resources and epidemiological situations has been developed, effectively implemented and refined through piloting. This technical guidance supports EU/EEA countries in their efforts to estimate their national hepatitis C burden as part of monitoring progress toward the elimination targets.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Fine-mapping identifies multiple prostate cancer risk loci at 5p15, one of which associates with TERT expression

Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 5p15 and multiple cancer types have been reported. We have previously shown evidence for a strong association between prostate cancer (PrCa) risk and rs2242652 at 5p15, intronic in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene that encodes TERT. To comprehensively evaluate the association between genetic variation across this region and PrCa, we performed a fine-mapping analysis by genotyping 134 SNPs using a custom Illumina iSelect array or Sequenom MassArray iPlex, followed by imputation of 1094 SNPs in 22 301 PrCa cases and 22 320 controls in The PRACTICAL consortium. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis identified four signals in the promoter or intronic regions of TERT that independently associated with PrCa risk. Gene expression analysis of normal prostate tissue showed evidence that SNPs within one of these regions also associated with TERT expression, providing a potential mechanism for predisposition to disease

Determination of main rock-forming elements, strontium and zirconium by X-ray fl uorescence analysis for the geochemical characterization of bottom sediments

Quantitative X-ray fluorescence determination of major rock-forming oxides (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO and Fe2O3) and some microelements (Sr and Zr) was performed in the samples of 143 cm-long sediment core of Lake Baunt (Buryat Republic) by the wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis on the S8 Tiger spectrometer. Calibration curves were obtained by measuring the certified reference materials of the sedimentary rocks. Both analyzed and reference samples were prepared as glass beads by fusion of 110 mg of sample with 1.1 g of lithium metaborate. We have used 110 mg mass to ensure the formation of beads with appropriate 10 to 12 mm size across to be measured by the spectrometer with 8 mm mask. Rh Kα Compton line was used as a background standard for Sr and Zr determination. The repeatability did not exceed the allowable standard deviation for a wide range of concentrations. Results of maj photometry techniques, results of Sr and Zr determination were compared with the data of synchrotron radiation excited X-ray fluorescence technique. All results of the X-ray fluorescence analysis were accepted as satisfactory. Quantitative analysis of each centimeter of Lake Baunt sediment core allowed building first reconstructions of the local environment during the last 7000 years with unique resolution of about 100 years.Методика, разработанная для количественного рентгенофлуоресцентного анализа малых навесок изверженных горных пород, применена для осадочных горных пород, которые существенно отличаются по химическому и минеральному составу, в частности, могут содержать более 15 % органической составляющей. Градуировочные уравнения были построены с использованием стандартных образцов континентальных рыхлых отложений, речных и морских илов и глин. Были прокалены и сплавлены в форме стеклянных дисков с метаборатом лития 143 образца керна донных отложений континентального озера Баунт (республика Бурятия). Правильность определения основных породообразующих компонентов (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, Fe2O3) и некоторых микроэлементов (Sr, Zr) рентгенофлуоресцентным методом оценена сопоставлением полученных результатов с данными анализа методами спектрофотометрии, пламенной фотометрии и рентгенофлуоресцентного анализа с возбуждением синхротронным излучением. Полученные результаты соответствуют требованиям количественного химического анализа. Рентгенофлуоресцентный анализ каждого сантиметра керна донных отложений озера Баунт позволил выявить за последние 7000 лет значительные вариации содержаний элементов, их соотношений и геохимических индексов, важных при палеоклиматических реконструкциях изменений региональных условий окружающей среды