Long-term clinical results of autologous bone marrow CD 133+ cell transplantation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

The aim of the study was investigate the long-term results of autologous bone marrow CD 133+ cell transplantation in patients with primary ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Methods and results: From 2006 to 2007, 26 patients with primary STEMI were included in an open randomized study. Patients were randomized to two groups: 1st - included patients underwent PCI and transplantation of autologous bone marrow CD 133+ cell (n = 10); 2nd - patients with only PCI (n = 16). Follow-up study was performed 7.70±0.42 years after STEMI and consisted in physical examination, 6-min walking test, Echo exam. Total and cardiovascular mortality in group 1 was lower (20% (n = 2) vs. 44% (n = 7), p = 0.1 and 22% (n = 2) vs. 25% (n = 4), (p=0.53), respectively). Analysis of cardiac volumetric parameters shows significant differences between groups: EDV of 100.7 ± 50.2 mL vs. 144.40±42.7 mL, ESV of 56.3 ± 37.8 mL vs. 89.7 ± 38.7 mL in 1st and 2nd groups, respectively. Data of the study showed positive effects of autologous bone marrow CD 133+ cell transplantation on the long-term survival of patients and structural status of the heart

The effect of acupuncture on the correction of post-stroke dysphagia compared to methods of physical influence

Background. Dysphagia is a problematic field in the clinical work of neurologists, resuscitation experts and therapists due to the high percentage of secondary complications caused by aspiration pneumonia, nutritional deficiency, which affect the recovery process. This ultimately affects the main socio-medical indicators such as mortality, lethality, disability in structure of cerebrovascular diseases. Neurogenic dysphagia occurs in 25–65 % of patients with stroke, while mortality among patients with post-stroke dysphagia receiving tube feeding varies from 20 to 24 %.The aim. To evaluate the impact of reflexology in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia in comparison with the methods of physical impact. Materials and methods. An open clinical comparative study was conducted in two clinical bases: Republican Hospital named after N.A. Semashko (Ulan-Ude) and Bokhan District Hospital.In this clinical trial, 53 patients with swallowing disorders during the acute period of ischemic stroke were tested. When diagnosing dysphagia, a point scale of the Clinic of the Institute of the Brain was used, which assesses the degree of swallowing disorders before and after treatment. The comparative group receiving standard therapy in combination with physiotherapy (VOCASTIM) included 27 patients, the study group was comprised of 26 patients, who underwent basic therapy in combination with acupuncture (1 course – 10 sessions). In the course of the comparative clinical trial, statistical data were obtained that indicate the positive role of acupuncture in restoring the function of swallowing in patients with acute impairment of cerebral circulation.Results. During the current clinical study, on the background of a 10-day course of reflexology with an exposure of 10–15 minutes and VOCASTIM physiotherapy for 10–15 minutes, the majority of patients experienced regression of post-stroke dysphagia.Conclusion. According to the results of this study, the method of reflexology as a result of physiotherapy showed a faster recovery of swallowing function in the correction of neurogenic swallowing diseases, which causes cerebral infarction

qKAT: Quantitative Semi-automated Typing of Killer-cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Genes.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are a set of inhibitory and activating immune receptors, on natural killer (NK) and T cells, encoded by a polymorphic cluster of genes on chromosome 19. Their best-characterized ligands are the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules that are encoded within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus on chromosome 6. There is substantial evidence that they play a significant role in immunity, reproduction, and transplantation, making it crucial to have techniques that can accurately genotype them. However, high-sequence homology, as well as allelic and copy number variation, make it difficult to design methods that can accurately and efficiently genotype all KIR genes. Traditional methods are usually limited in the resolution of data obtained, throughput, cost-effectiveness, and the time taken for setting up and running the experiments. We describe a method called quantitative KIR semi-automated typing (qKAT), which is a high-throughput multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction method that can determine the gene copy numbers for all genes in the KIR locus. qKAT is a simple high-throughput method that can provide high-resolution KIR copy number data, which can be further used to infer the variations in the structurally polymorphic haplotypes that encompass them. This copy number and haplotype data can be beneficial for studies on large-scale disease associations, population genetics, as well as investigations on expression and functional interactions between KIR and HLA

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e. a controlling message) compared to no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly-internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared to the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly-internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing: Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

HEART-TYPE FATTY ACID BINDING PROTEIN-BASED ExPRESS TEST IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Aim. To compare the effectiveness of two express tests — CardioFABP andTroponin I WB-Check-1 in the diagnostics of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Material and methods. The study included 38 patients who were hospitalised with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnosis within the first 12 hours after the painonset. At the admission, the peripheral blood levels of CK-MB and troponin I werequalitatively assessed using the immunochemiluminescent analyser “Access-2”(Beckman Coulter, USA). In addition, the express test Troponin I WB-Check-1(VEDALAB, France; sensitivity 1 ng/ml) was used. Qualitative assessment of hearttypefatty acid binding protein (hFABP) was performed with the express test“CardioFABP” (Biotest, Russia; sensitivity 15 ng/ml). For all tests, diagnosticsensitivity, diagnostic specificity, positive and negative predictive value, anddiagnostic effectiveness were assessed.Results. The express tests for hFABP and troponin I demonstrated high positivepredictive value and diagnostic specificity (100%). However, both tests also had falsenegative results, and, therefore, negative predictive value was low for both the hFABPtest (23,5%) and the troponin I test (17,4%). Diagnostic sensitivity was 35,4% for the troponin I express test and 57,6% for the hFABP express test. Diagnostic effectiveness was higher for the hFABP express test (62,2%). All positive results of the hFABPexpress test were confirmed by the other tests, which resulted in high positive predictive value (100%) and high diagnostic specificity (100%). In patients within the first 6 hours of ACS, diagnostic sensitivity of the hFABP express test was significantlyhigher than in those with a longer ACS duration (83,3% vs. 42,8%, respectively).Conclusion. The higher diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic effectiveness of thehFABP-based express test in the first 6 hours of ACS, compared to a qualitativeassessment of troponin I and a later assessment of hFABP, agrees with the earlierobtained data and confirms the status of hFABP as the earliest marker of myocardialnecrosis

Features of development of small and medium-sized businesses under external constraints

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Russia are characterized by a large number and, at the same time, vulnerability: due to limited capital, SMEs are unable to independently cope with the challenges of the external environment and need state support. In the current economic conditions, SMEs experience a number of difficulties associated with both limited access to resources and high competition in the market. In addition, the sanctions imposed against Russia have complicated the activities of SMEs in the areas of supply, procurement, information and advertising, which determined the relevance of the study. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the face of external constraints. The object of the study is small and medium-sized businesses in Russia in general and the Orenburg region, as one of the border regions. The choice for the study of the Orenburg region is justified by the strategically important economic and geographical position of this region. The research methodology was based on general scientific methods of cognition, as well as logical-comparative, causal and correlation-regression analysis. The study carried out a retrospective analysis of the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Russia and the Orenburg region, considered the areas of activity in respect of which anti-Russian sanctions were imposed, and also identified the main patterns of the modern development of small and medium-sized businesses in Russia. Considerable attention is paid to the mechanisms of state support for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia and the Orenburg region. Based on the analysis of statistical data, the main problem of the development of SMEs and its support in the Orenburg region was identified. The study analyzed the experience of successful implementation of small and medium-sized businesses in Russia and the Orenburg region. It is shown that digitalization is an urgent and most promising direction for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. The practical significance of the study is to determine the features and promising directions for the development of SMEs in Russia and the Orenburg region in the context of external restrictions, taking into account import substitution. The results of the analysis of key economic sectors and the functioning of SMEs presented in the article will be useful to their management, as well as to the scientific community for further research in the following areas: identifying import substitution factors at SMEs under external restrictions and sanctions, identifying objective and subjective conditions of negative impact on the subjects SMEs, the distribution of the productive forces of SMEs, the spatial specialization of SMEs, planning and forecasting the development of SMEs under external constraints, and a number of others

LONG TERM CLINICAL RESULTS OF AUTOLOGOUS CD133+ BONE MARROW CELLS TRANSPLANTATION IN ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PATIENTS

Aim. To study the long-term effectiveness and safety of CD133+ bone marrow cells transplantation in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.Material and methods. To the open-label, randomized study we included 26 patients, admitted with primary MI during years 2006-2007 to SRI of Cardiology. Patients were randomized to two groups: 1st — stenting of infarction-related coronary artery (IRA) and transplantation of CD133+ bone marrow cells (n=10), 2nd — only stenting of IRA (n=16). Baseline clinical and anamnestic parameters were similar. In 7,70±0,42 years after MI we performed control investigation, that included physical examination, 6-minute walking test (6WT), echocardiography.Results. It is found, that in the 1st group comparing to the 2nd, total and cardiovasular mortality was lower (20% (2) vs 44% (7), p=0,11; 22% (2) vs 25% (4), p=0,58, resp.). In the 2nd there were 7 cases of recurrent MI (44% of patients), 4 of those were fatal, but in the 1st group there were no any recurrent MI (p=0,01). During the whole followup, unstable angina was more common in the 2nd group (11 (69%) vs 2 (20%) in 1st, р=0,04). CHF of II FC and higher was more common in 2nd group: 8 (50%) vs 2 (20%) in 1st, р=0,07. Also, there were significant differences in analysis of volumetrics of the left ventricle (EDV — 100,7±50,2 mL vs 144,4±42,7 mL, р=0,049; ESV — 56,3±37,8 mL vs 89,7±38,7 mL, р=0,049, resp.). These values were lower in the 1st group.Conclusion. The results demonstrated that transplantation of autologous CD133+ bone marrow cells positively influences long-term survival of patients, CHD course and volumetric LV parameters