Tectonic sources of caucasus strong earthquakes

International audienceThe method called "phase cone" is developed in order to define the location, time of arising and velocity of the earthquakes initiating the low-speed interference stress waves. From the data of the strong earthquakes with M?6.0 in Caucasus region during 1900-1992, the immigrators or tectonic sources of low-speed waves were revealed, interference nodes of which had initiated 19 earthquakes out of total 33. The time of arising of low-speed stress waves or periods of awaking of tectonic sources is defined. The velocities of constant initiative waves for all events were calculated. Its average value is equal to 2.97km per year

Relatively small earthquakes of Javakheti Highland as the precursors of large earthquakes occuring in the Caucasus

International audienceJavakheti Highland is one of the most seismic active regions of the Caucasus. The majority of earthquakes observed throughout the region occur within this small area (f = 40.8° ? 41.8° ; l = 43.3° ? 44.3°). One can expect that exclusive seismic activity of Javakheti Highland testifies to global geophysical processes which take place throughout the Caucasus region. Based on the above-mentioned, of interest was to study variation with time of the number of earthquakes occurring in Javakheti region. We analysed some 695 relatively small earthquakes (2.5 M > 6.0 of the region which occurred in the same period. It was found that each large earthquake of the Caucasus is anticipated by clear precursor in a form of an anomalous change in the number of relatively small earthquakes in Javakheti Highland

Evaluation of sexual dimorphism of histochemical activity of phosphatases of the plantar glands of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase in the eccrine and sebaceous glands of the skin of the soles of the paws of male and female Norway rats was studied by histochemiсal methods. Using the methods of qualimetric analysis, we presented a digitalized form of the enzyme activity, which made it possible to calculate sexual dimorphism indices, reflecting quantitative differences in the enzymatic activity of the skin glands in males and females of Norway rats. For acid phosphatase activity, the sexual dimorphism index was equal to 0.50 in the eccrine glands and equal to 0.33 in the sebaceous glands. For alkaline phosphatase activity, values of sexual dimorphism indices were equal to –0.25 and 0.33 correspondingly, and for adenosine triphosphatase values of sexual dimorphism indices were equal to –0.33 and 0.50. Digital analogues of the histoenzymatic activity of the skin glands were presented as coordinates in three-dimensional space. Using the methods of analytical geometry, we calculated the values of intersexual distances (1.73 for eccrine glands and 1.73 for sebaceous glands), reflecting the cumulative differences in the activity of three types of phosphatases, which can be considered as an integral indicator of sexual dimorphism. Histochemical activity entropy is significant in the eccrine glands. Male entropy value (0.842 bit) was less than female entropy value (0.915 bit), because total actual activity of the males’ phosphatases was greater (220% of 300%) than total actual activity of the females’ phosphatases (200% of 300%). High entropy level of phosphatase activity was typical for male sebaceous glands (0.998 bit), where the general level of enzymatic activity was significantly reduced (160% of 300%). Because of the highest total actual phosphatase activity of female sebaceous glands (220% of 300%), entropy value was the lowest (0.842 bit). The obtained results show not only sexual dimorphism by histochemical parameters but show different communicational levels of male and female Norway rats, taking into account the important role of the plantar glands as sources of chemical signals determining the character of marking behaviour

Connection of large earthquakes occurring moment with the movement of the Sun and the Moon and with the Earth crust tectonic stress character

It is acceptable that earthquakes certain exogenous (cosmic) triggering factors may exist in every seismoactive (s/a) region and in Caucasus among them. They have to correct earthquake occurring moment or play the triggering role in case when the region is at the limit of the critical value of the geological medium of course. <br><br> Our aim is to reveal some exogenous factors possible to initiate earthquakes, on example of Caucasus s/a region, taking into account that the region is very complex by the point of view of the tectonic stress distribution. <br><br> The compression stress directed from North to South (and vice versa) and the spread stress directed from East to West (and vice versa) are the main stresses acted in Caucasus region. No doubt that action of the smallest external stress may "work" as earthquakes triggering factor. <br><br> In the presented work the Moon and the Sun perturbations are revealed as initiative agents of earthquakes when the directions of corresponding exogenous forces coincide with the directions of the compression stress or the spreading tectonic stress in the region

Can environment or allergy explain international variation in prevalence of wheeze in childhood?

Asthma prevalence in children varies substantially around the world, but the contribution of known risk factors to this international variation is uncertain. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Two studied 8–12 year old children in 30 centres worldwide with parent-completed symptom and risk factor questionnaires and aeroallergen skin prick testing. We used multilevel logistic regression modelling to investigate the effect of adjustment for individual and ecological risk factors on the between-centre variation in prevalence of recent wheeze. Adjustment for single individual-level risk factors changed the centre-level variation from a reduction of up to 8.4% (and 8.5% for atopy) to an increase of up to 6.8%. Modelling the 11 most influential environmental factors among all children simultaneously, the centre-level variation changed little overall (2.4% increase). Modelling only factors that decreased the variance, the 6 most influential factors (synthetic and feather quilt, mother’s smoking, heating stoves, dampness and foam pillows) in combination resulted in a 21% reduction in variance. Ecological (centre-level) risk factors generally explained higher proportions of the variation than did individual risk factors. Single environmental factors and aeroallergen sensitisation measured at the individual (child) level did not explain much of the between-centre variation in wheeze prevalence

Ecological Crisis and Human Health

დამიანი, როგორც ბიოლოგიური ობიექტი განიცდის გარემოს ზემოქმედებას. გარემოს დაბინძურების ძირითადი მიზეზი ბოლო 100-150 წლის მანძილზე ადამიანის სამეურნეო საქმიანობაა. დღეს ბიოსფერო ყველაზე კრიტიკულ პერიოდს განიცდის თავისი არსებობის მანძილზე. თანამედროვე საზოგადოება ღრმა კრიზისშია, ეკოლოგიური სიტუაცია ჩვენს პლანეტაზე უარესდება, არნახულმა ინდუსტრიალიზაციამ, ურბანიზაციამ პლანეტის მოსახლეობის მკვეთრმა ზრდამ, სოფლის მეურნეობის ქიმიზაციამ არსებითად შეცვალეს ნივთიერებათა წრებრუნვა და ენერგეტიკული პროცესები ბიოსფეროში. დაზიანდა მისი ჰომესტაზური მექანიზმები, რამაც საშიშროების წინაშე დააყენა ადამიანის ჯანმრთელობა და სიცოცხლე, საბოლოო ჯამში კაცობრიობის არსებობაც.The human being as a biological object experiences environmental impact. The main reason for environmental pollution is the human's agricultural activity during the last 100-150 years. Today the biosphere is undergoing a critical period. The ecological situation is getting worse on out planet. Unprecedented industrialization, urbanization, widespread use of chemicals in agriculture substantially changed metabolic circulation and energy processes in biosphere, which endangered human health, life and human existence as well

S. Spitz nevus – Clinical, Dermatoscopic and Histological Features Correlation – Cases Report

Introduction. S. Spitz nevus is a benign melanocytic neoplasm composed from spindled or epitheloid new melanocytes mostly appearing in the pediatric age and described previously as juvenile melanoma. In accordance with the literature the majority of cases are observed in the first two decades of life mainly in fair-skinned persons representing about 1.0 % of all childhood melanocytic nevi. The S. Spitz nevus was first described in 1948 by Sophie Spitz as benign juvenile melanoma with good prognosis but histological resemblance with melanoma and bears her name. It may mimic melanoma at clinical, derma­toscopic and histopathological levels being today the subject of discussion and one of the most difficult questions among the pigmented lesions both for dermatologists and morphologists. As a result, there are contradictions regarding the appropriate therapy and prognosis. The aim of the study. To describe the correlations between the clinical, dermatoscopic and pathomorphological features of S. Spitz nevi in three clinical cases. Materials and methods. The content analysis, bibliosemantic method of studying the actual scientific researches concerning non-invasive methods of S. Spitz nevus evaluation were used. The study was carried out in the following scientific databases: PubMed-NCBI, Medline, Cochranel Library, EMBASE, ReseachGate by keywords: S. Spitz nevus, dermatoscopy, correlation with morphological examination. Three clinical cases were described. Digital dermatoscopic images were captured using Dermatoscope (DermLite DL3) mounted on the digital camera Galaxy S-4 Samsung Corporation) using the ultrasound gel for imersion dermatoscopy. All images were evaluated in accordance with algorithm of H. Kittler. Results. Dermatoscopy is the appropriate and helpful method for diagnosing S. Spitz nevus, but together with this the histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations are still needed to rule out malignancy, especially for uncommon or atypical dermatoscopic patterns. S. Spitz nevus clinically is presented as a solitary, pink, red or brown papule most commonly located on the face or extremities and characterized by an initially rapid growth. The other clinical characteristic feature is size, thus they are usually less than 1.0 cm in diameter, larger size is considered as abnormal. They may be pigmented when colours ranging from tan to dark brown or even black, but typically they are from pink to red because of limited melanin content and increased vascularity. Clinically the most often features are symmetry, smooth, dome-shaped and hairless surface, and well-demarcated borders. Both genders are equally affected. However, because of few specific clinical features, it is often difficult to make a correct diagnosis of S. Spitz nevus with naked eyes, sometimes it is clinically mistaken with other skin tumors such as hemangioma, verruca vulgaris, dermatofibroma, etc. Dermatoscopy became very helpful in S. Spitz nevus diagnosis accuracy and its most typical variants determining. The management of S. Spitz nevus is still controversial. According to dermatoscopic morphology of S. Spitz nevi and management guidelines by 2017 British Association of Dermatologists, surgical excision should be reserved for suspicious lesions in children at 12 years of age and older and for all suspicious neoplasm with an atypical pattern when malignant melanoma cannot be excluded in children of all ages. Clinical and dermatoscopic follow-up should be continued until these neoplasms maintain the typical features of common nevi or disappear. In this report we discuss 3 different cases of S. Spitz nevi. The patients were at the age of 7 to 11 years old, had unremarkable medical histories and rapid growth of elements in the last period. Conclusions. There are many contradictions in the diagnosis and management of S. Spitz nevus due to its peculiar clinical, dermatoscopic and histomorphological features. Dermatoscopy has emerged as an important tool in the evaluation of patients with such lesions, but it is still necessary to perform a biopsy or excision for cases with suspicious clinical manifestations or atypical dermatoscopic patterns. As well the short-term follow-up is helpful and should be continued until these neoplasms maintain the typical features of common nevi or disappear

Non-melanoma Skin Cancers in Uranium Miners – Clinical Cases

Introduction. Using sources of ionizing radiation in various spheres of human life became an integral part of the existence of modern society and the necessary condition for further scientific and technological progress. However, along with the obvious benefits, this increases the radiation burden and number of malignant neoplasms and the related reduction in life expectancy. The various health risks associated with uranium exposure are well known, mainly it concerns the lung cancer, but recently there has been a hypothesis that if uranium is photoactivated by ultraviolet radiation, it may be more dangerous for the skin. This idea is confirmed by statistics on countries with high levels of solar radiation and uranium deposits, which are being actively developed, such as Australia, Kazakhstan, Canada, Russia, etc. The following article provides a brief overview of the literature and presents 2 cases of basal cell carcinoma in the miners of the uranium mine. The aim of the study. To analyze the overview of the accessible literature and the description of two clinical cases of non-melanoma skin cancers in uranium miners from the own practice. Materials and methods. The content analysis, method of systemic comparative analysis, bibliosemantic method of studying of actual scientific researches concerning the practice of non-invasive methods of evaluation were used. The search for sources was carried out in the scientific meteorological databases: PubMed-NCBI, Medline, CochraneLibrary, EMBASE, ResearchGate by keywords: “uranium miners”, “non-melanoma skin cancer”, “UV”, “dermatoscopy”. Digital dermoscopic images were captured using dermatoscope (DermLite DL3 dermatoscope) mounted on a digital camera (Galaxy S-4 Samsung Corporation). Ultrasound gel was also used for immersion dermatoscopy. All images were evaluated using the algorithm of H. Kittler. Conclusions. The overview of the modern literature and clinical cases from our own practice suggest that uranium mining and processing are associated with a wide range of potential adverse human health risks and skin malignancy in this processes in not less important than of respiratory tract, especially since this risk is exacerbated by the exposure to ultraviolet light. The risk of non-melanoma skin cancers in this group requires careful clinical and dermatoscopy monitoring and in the case of suspicious lesions special tests like histology from of the skin biopsy, immunohistochemical stains and/or electron microscopy. The future study of statistical data on skin cancers from similar regions is of no less interest

World Biodiversity and Georgia

სამეცნიერო ლიტერატურაში „ბიოლოგიური მრავალფეროვნება" XIX საუკუნის მეორე ნახევრიდან ჩნდება. 1992 წელს რიო-დე-ჟანეიროში, გაერთიანებული ერების ორგანიზაციის გარემოს დაცვის და განვითარების კონფერენციაზე, მიღებული იქნა კონვენცია „ბიომრავალფეროვნების შესახებ". მას საქართველო შეუერთდა 1994 წელს. ამჟამად კონვენცია აერთიანებს 180 სახელმწიფოს. კონვენციის მიხედვით ყველა სახელმწიფო ვალდებულია ბიომრავალფეროვნების დაცვისთვის შეიმუშაოს ეროვნული პოლიტიკა და გაატაროს ეფექტური ღონისძიებები. ბიომრავალფეროვნება ამა თუ იმ ქვეყნის ბიოსფეროს მდგომარეობის უმნიშვნელოვანესი მაჩვენებელია

Histological Changes of Linear Scleroderma “en Coup de Sabre”

Introduction. Scleroderma is a chronic disease of unknown aetiology characterized by skin fibrosis and is divided into two clinical entities: localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. But the localized scleroderma is not accompanied by Raynaud’s phenomenon, acrosclerosis and internal organ involvement and the life prognosis of patients with localized scleroderma is good. Scleroderma “en coup de sabre” (ECDS) is considered a linear localized form of scleroderma or morphoea. It usually involves, unilaterally, the frontoparietal area, but may extend downwards to the face. Most cases begin before 10 years of age. The aim of our study was to investigate the histological characteristics and their clinical association in ECDS. Materials and methods. The present study was carried out at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology in Tbilisi State Medical University. 11 patients (2 men and 9 women) with lesions clinically and histologically diagnosed as ECDS were retrospectively included. Patients who were treated with immunomodulating agents, including systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants before presentation, or patients complicated with Parry – Romberg syndrome were excluded from the study. All patients were subjected to: history taking including: age, sex, duration of the disease, family history; clinical examination; skin biopsy – evaluated for epidermal atrophy, spongiosis, vacuolar degeneration of basal cell layer, satellite cell necrosis, basal pigmentation, melanin incontinence, perivascular infiltrate, perineural infiltrate, periappendageal infiltrate, vacuolar changes of follicular epithelium and dermal fibrosis. Results. All ECDS patients demonstrated epidermal lymphocytic infiltrate, tagging of lymphocytes along the dermo-epidermal junction and vacuolar changes, regardless of disease duration, clinical presentation and the intensity of perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. Furthermore, when we defined patients with disease duration of < 3 years and of ≥ 6 years, respectively, the degrees of perivascular and/or peri-appendageal infiltrate and vacuolar changes of follicular epithelium were much greater, whereas epidermal atrophy was less frequently seen, in early ECDS patients than in late ECDS patients. The intensity of interface dermatitis in epidermis was comparable between early and late ECDS lesions. Also it’s important to mention, that in our study in early stage localized scleroderma the characteristic histological finding is not only perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. Vacuolar changes in epidermis is also a common histological feature in the sites of damaged skin of ECDS patients and vacuolar changes in follicular epithelium and peri-appendageal infiltrate serve as a histological marker of early and active ECDS lesions in addition to perivascular infiltrate. Conclusions. Although the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma still remains unknown, the present observation and received results are useful to determine the activity of skin lesions in ECDS and provide us a new clue to further understand the pathogenesis of this disorder