Strontium- and Zinc-Containing Bioactive Glass and Alginates Scaffolds.

With an increasingly elderly population, there is a proportionate increase in bone injuries requiring hospitalization. Clinicians are increasingly adopting tissue-engineering methods for treatment due to limitations in the use of autogenous and autologous grafts. The aim of this study was to synthesize a novel, bioactive, porous, mechanically stable bone graft substitute/scaffold. Strontium- and zinc-containing bioactive glasses were synthesized and used with varying amounts of alginate to form scaffolds. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC), FTIR, XRD, and NMR techniques were used for the characterization of scaffolds. SEM confirmed the adequate porous structure of the scaffolds required for osteoconductivity. The incorporation of the bioactive glass with alginate has improved the compressive strength of the scaffolds. The bioactivity of the scaffolds was demonstrated by an increase in the pH of the medium after the immersion of the scaffolds in a Tris/HCl buffer and by the formation of orthophosphate precipitate on scaffolds. The scaffolds were able to release calcium, strontium and zinc ions in the Tris/HCl buffer, which would have a positive impact on osteogenesis if tested in vivo

Bioactive glass composite for orthodontic adhesives - Formation and characterisation of apatites using MAS-NMR and SEM.

OBJECTIVES: To study the dissolution and fluoroapatite (FAP) formation of a new bioactive glass (BAG)-resin adhesive in an acidic solution in reference to neutral solutions, using the magic angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). METHODS: BAG composite disks (n = 90) were prepared from, novel fluoride-containing BAG-resin. Three sample groups (n = 30) of the disks were immersed in Tris buffer pH = 7.3 (TB), neutral artificial saliva pH = 7 (AS7) and acidic artificial saliva pH = 4 (AS4) at ten time points (from 6 h to 6 months). Half of the immersed disks at each time point were crushed into a powder and investigated by the solid state MAS-NMR. SEM studies were undertaken by embedding the other half of the immersed disk in a self-cure acrylic where the fracture surface was imaged. RESULTS: MAS-NMR results show that the BAG composite degraded significantly faster in AS4 compared to TB and AS7. At the end of the immersion period (6 months), around 80% of the glass particles in AS4 had reacted to form an apatite, evidenced by the sharp peak at 2.82 ppm in 31P signals compared to a broader peak in TB and AS7. It also shows evidence of fluorapatite (FAP) formation, indicated by 19F signal at -103 ppm, while signal around -108 ppm indicated the formation of calcium fluoride, from the excess Ca2+ and F- especially on longer immersion. SEM images confirm higher degradation rate of the BAG composite in AS4 and reveal the impact of time on the dissolution of more glass particles. The images also indicate apatite formation around the glass particles in TB and AS4, while it forms predominantly over the disk surface in AS7. SIGNIFICANCE: BAG composite demonstrate smart reactivity in response to pH change which has a potential clinical benefit against demineralization and promoting remineralisation to form more stable fluorapatites

Anthropomorphic Metaphorical Features in Figurative Content of ISLAND Concept

The problem of actualization of anthropomorphic metaphorical features in the figurative content of the ISLAND concept is considered. The object of the research is the ISLAND concept as a cultural concept. The subject of the research is the anthropomorphic metaphorical features included in the figurative content of the ISLAND concept, and the means of their linguistic verbalization. On the basis of the classifications of the main types of metaphorical transfers and the main types of figurative-metaphorical signs in the content of the concept, a classification of anthropomorphic metaphorical signs that are included in the figurative content of the ISLAND concept is proposed. As a result of the analysis, five main groups of anthropomorphic metaphorical features have been identified: 1) gender; 2) physiological properties; 3) somatic affiliation; 4) the physical properties of a person; 5) mental properties. It is shown that the feature of the female is present in the figurative content of the concept under study. It is noted that such parts of the human body as the head, heart, spine, as well as physical actions: coming, lying, standing, etc. are most often metaphorized. A number of physiological and mental properties of a person are revealed, which are subject to metaphorization: the ability to live, visual ability, feelings of happiness and tranquility

О ежегодной конференции рабочей группы ENFSI по информационным технологиям в судебной экспертизе

The paper sums up the outcomes of the Annual Meeting of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Forensic Information Technology Working Group. The meeting was held on September 20–23, 2016 in Windsor (the UK).Представлены итоги ежегодной конференции рабочей группы Европейской сети судебно-экспертных учреждений (ENFSI) по информационным технологиям. Встреча проходила с 20 по 23 сентября 2016 года в г. Виндзор, Великобритания

Phosphate/Silicate Ratio Allows for Fine-Tuning of Bioactive Glass Crystallisation and Glass-Ceramic Microstructure

A combination of XRD, solid-state NMR and state-of-the-art imaging techniques were used to investigate how the calcium orthophosphate/calcium silicate ratio affects the crystallisation of bioactive glasses in the system SiO2-P2O5-CaO-CaF2. In the phosphate-free glass, xonotlite, wollastonite and cuspidine crystallised. From 2.4 mol% P2O5, fluorapatite also formed, while the amount of wollastonite decreased. Crystallisation tendency was low for low phosphate contents, while above 3 mol% P2O5 it increased. The phosphate-free glass showed a volume crystallisation mechanism with constant activation energy. By contrast, the glass with the largest phosphate to silicate ratio showed both volume and surface crystallisation, causing a pronounced decrease in activation energy with crystallisation degree. This work shows that by changing the phosphate/silicate ratio we can determine which crystal phases form, obtaining for example fluorapatite-free or wollastonite-free glass-ceramics, depending on the desired application and properties such as mechanical strength or activity in contact with physiological solutions

ESCHERICHIA COLI phenotypic characteristics and antagonistic activity in opisthorchiasis invasion

Opisthorchis felineus invasion in human causes inflammatory and dyskinetic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract accompanied by altered phenotypic characteristics in colon microbiota. The aim of research — study an impact of the Escherichia coli isolate phenotypic characteristics on Klebsiella spp. bacteria, isolated from colonic contents of patients with diagnosed opisthorchiasis as well as E. coli antagonistic activity. Materials and methods. The phenotypic properties of 54 E. coli isolates and 8 genus Klebsiella isolates obtained from colonic contents of patients with diagnosed opisthorchiasis were assessed. Identification of isolates and analysis of proteomic profiles were performed using Maldi BioTyper 3.0 software. 204 co-cultivation datasets were analyzed investigating antagonistic activity of E. coli isolates with varying properties on Klebsiella spp. E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates were examined by whole genome sequencing. Results. E. coli bacteria with typical phenotypic characteristics showed significantly more prominent antagonistic activity against Klebsiella spp. A significantly higher level of antagonistic activity against K. oxytoca bacteria vs K. pneumoniae strains. The proteomic bacterial strain profiles were divided into clusters depending on the level of antagonistic activity. E. coli molecular serotyping for O- and H-antigens revealed the genes of enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive and extraintestinal pathogens in 60.0% of cases. Strains with the highest antagonistic activity index, which are carriers of the genes typical to enterotoxigenic E. coli sequence serotypes O6:H1 and O6:H5, were identified. The genome of such strains consisted of the largest number of virulence gene complexes: adhesins, invasins, toxins, bacteriocins. Multilocus sequence typing and sequence serotyping of E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains established their heterogeneity; K. oxytoca isolates were identified as ST242 and ST176. All strains were characterized by homology of antibiotic resistance markers (oqxA, oqxB, fosA) and a variety of beta-lactam resistance gene variants. Conclusion. It was found that E. coli isolates with typical phenotypic characteristics and carriers of virulence gene complexes exhibited significantly more pronounced antagonistic activity against Klebsiella spp. isolated from colonic contents of patients with diagnosed opisthorchiasis

Некоторые аспекты использования системного подхода к исследованию объектов судебной экспертизы

The article is devoted to the application of the systematic approach when studying the objects of forensic examination. Based on the theoretical reflection on the problem, as well as on the materials of practice of forensic computer and integrated psychological and linguistic examinations, the authors demonstrate that it is necessary to consider complex objects of analysis as systems. All the elements of such systems are intertwined, aligned, organized and collectively possess properties that are not inherent in any component of their parts. Application of the systematic approach in the production of forensic examinations will help to avoid mistakes resulting in unreliable conclusions.На основе теоретического осмысления проблемы использования системного подхода к исследованию объектов судебной экспертизы, а также на материале практики производства судебных компьютерно-технических и комплексных психолого-лингвистических экспертиз показано, что сложные объекты судебной экспертизы необходимо рассматривать как систему. Все элементы данной системы взаимосвязаны, упорядочены, организованы и в совокупности обладают свойствами, не присущими ни одной из составляющей его частей. Использование системного подхода в производстве судебных экспертиз позволит избежать ошибок, ведущих к недостоверным выводам

CYTOKINE-PRODUCING RESERVE OF IMMUNOCOMPETENT CELLS FROM BLOOD AND INVASIVE DUCTAL BREAST CANCER TISSUES: ITS CORRELATION WITH HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF MALIGNANT NEOPLASIA

The aim of the study was to investigate a relationship between cytokine-producing reserve of invasive ductal cancer cells and its microenvironment, and cytokine-producing reserve of immunocompetent blood cells (IBC), as well as with histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of breast cancer. Using ELISA method we investigated the spontaneous and stimulated with polyclonal activators (PA) cytokine-producing reserve of IBC and biopsy specimens from invasive ductal cancer (adenocarcinoma) in 34 women. Appropriate values were expressed by the Influence Index of polyclonal activators (IIPA) upon cytokine production (IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IL-18, IL-1β, IL-1ra, TNFα, IFNγ, G-CSF, GM-CSF, VEGF-A, MCP-1). In tumor biopsies, we studied expression of VEGF-A, estrogen receptor, progesteron receptor and pro-proliferation marker Ki-67 by means of immunohistochemical method. Activation values of blood IBC in most cases, except of IL-18, IL-1β and MCP-1, were higher than appropriate effects upon cytokine production by tumor tisuues. Meanwhile, the IIPA activation index upon IL-18 (a proinflammatory and prooncogene cytokine) production by tumor cells and its microenvironment proved to be elevated, as compared to appropriate IIPA by the blood IBC. Statistical studies showed a direct correlation between IIPA and cytokine production in tumor supernates, IIPA of VEGF-A expression in tumor tissue, with pathohistological parameters and expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and Ki-67 proliferation marker. A high positive correlation was obtained between IIPA TNFα production by the tumor tissue, and degree of tumor vascularization.We have revealed a negative correlation between IIPA for IL-6, MCP-1 and Ki-67 marker of cell proliferation. A direct correlation was found between IIPA values for IL-1ra/IL-1β production ratios in blood cells, and IIPA for VEGF-A expression in adenocarcinoma tissues, thus indicating to probable connections between IL-1ra production by IBC and VEGF-A expression. We have discerned several intersecting, diverging, and even circle-closed correlative chains of correlation, e.g.: VEGF-A (immunohistochemical marker of IIPA expression) – IL-10 and IL-8 (IIPA for supernate products); MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-10 (IIPA for supernate products)– VEGF-A (immunohistochemical indicator of expression for IIPA). The results of this study suggest a relationship between cytokine-producing reserves of the tumor identified by appropriate PA correlations with the processes occurring in malignant tumors, as assessed by histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters. The data are indicative for some complex mechanisms mediated by cytokines which provide invasive growth of malignant tumor