Transgenerational and intergenerational effects of early childhood famine exposure in the cohort of offspring of Leningrad Siege survivors

Famine exposure during early life development can affect disease risk in late-life period, yet, transmission of phenotypic features from famine-exposed individuals to the next generations has not been well characterized. The purpose of our case–control study was to investigate the association of parental starvation in the perinatal period and the period of early childhood with the phenotypic features observed in two generations of descendants of Leningrad siege survivors. We examined 54 children and 30 grandchildren of 58 besieged Leningrad residents who suffered from starvation in early childhood and prenatal age during the Second World War. Controls from the population-based national epidemiological ESSE-RF study (n = 175) were matched on sex, age and body mass index (BMI). Phenotypes of controls and descendants (both generations, children and grandchildren separately) were compared, taking into account multiple testing. Comparison of two generations descendants with corresponding control groups revealed significantly higher creatinine and lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), both in meta-analysis and in independent analyses. The mean values of GFR for all groups were within the normal range (GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was recorded in 2 controls and no one in DLSS). Additionally, independent of the creatinine level, differences in the eating pattern were detected: insufficient fish and excessive red meat consumption were significantly more frequent in the children of the Leningrad siege survivors compared with controls. Blood pressure, blood lipids and glucose did not differ between the groups. Parental famine exposure in early childhood may contribute to a decrease in kidney filtration capacity and altered eating pattern in the offspring of famine-exposed individuals.</p

Investigation of Nonlinear Optical Properties of Quantum Dots Deposited onto a Sample Glass Using Time-Resolved Inline Digital Holography

We report on the application of time-resolved inline digital holography in the study of the nonlinear optical properties of quantum dots deposited onto sample glass. The Fresnel diffraction patterns of the probe pulse due to noncollinear degenerate phase modulation induced by a femtosecond pump pulse were extracted from the set of inline digital holograms and analyzed. The absolute values of the nonlinear refractive index of both the sample glass substrate and the deposited layer of quantum dots were evaluated using the proposed technique. To characterize the inhomogeneous distribution of the samples’ nonlinear optical properties, we proposed plotting an optical nonlinearity map calculated as a local standard deviation of the diffraction pattern intensities induced by noncollinear degenerate phase modulation.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Defending Pussy Riot metonymically : the trial representations, media and social movements in Russia and the United States

textDuring August 2012 the issues of women's rights in Russia attracted attention of the U.S. newspapers, which was an unusual occurrence for this unprivileged region in feminist theorizing. In my thesis I explore the rhetoric around the Pussy Riot trial and verdict. I argue that international media rendered the protest metonymically, thereby reducing its political content to human rights and Cold War frames. I explore the usage of historical references in the narratives, based on these paradigms. The oppressiveness of the Russian government is constructed through Cold War rhetoric by references to Stalinism, which masks the neoliberal content of this case. The confrontation is represented as a clash of cultures based on the contrast between democracy and oppressive regimes, with Pussy Riot as martyrs for Western values and Putin as an Oriental dictator. I argue that this rhetoric has troubling implications for social activism, that democracy could be only achieved through non-violent and individualist symbolic activism which relies on the Western standards. The second part of my thesis analyzes how social movements in the U.S. and Russia interact with each other and influence each other's tactics through interaction with media representations of the Pussy Riot trial and dominant narratives regarding activism. My support for this argument comes from an analysis of the U.S. and Russian movements' responses to the Pussy Riot trial. Embracing a complex combination of political meanings, these events were significantly determined by prolific mass media coverage and mediated interaction between activist groups.Women's and Gender Studie

First building engineers in architectural practice of St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 19th century

The emergence of the specialty of civil engineer in the first half of the 19th century had a significant impact on architectural practice in St. Petersburg. The differentiation of the professions of engineer and architect took place for the first time; both specialists began to participate in the design. The appearance of such engineers as Augustine Betancourt, Matvey Clark, Pierre-Dominique Bazin and Wilhelm von Tretter brought about changes in all areas of architecture and construction. New building structures and materials appeared, as well as methods for checking and calculating. Designing has become comprehensive, the activities of the Committee for Structures and Hydraulic Works led by Betancourt covered urban development, individual buildings and all types of utilities. The formation of engineering education took place, which brought up the next generation of Russian engineers.The article considers the most important aspects of the activities of Augustine Betancourt, who laid the foundations for engineering education in Russia; Matvey Clark, who created the first metal beams and trusses; Pierre Dominique Bazin, who continued the development of engineering education, as well as Wilhelm von Tretter, one of the founders of iron bridge construction in Russia

New Conjugates Based on AIS/ZnS Quantum Dots and Aluminum Phthalocyanine Photosensitizer: Synthesis, Properties and Some Perspectives

Today, fluorescent diagnostics and photodynamic therapy are promising methods for diagnosing and treating oncological diseases. The development of new photosensitizers (PS) is one of the most important tasks to improve the efficiency of both laser-induced diagnostics and therapy. In our study, we conjugated PS with AIS/ZnS triple quantum dots (QDs) to obtain non-aggregated complexes. It was shown that the conjugation of PS with QDs does not change the PS fluorescence lifetime, which is a marker of the preservation of PS photophysical properties. In particular, efficient resonant Förster energy transfer (FRET), from QDs to PS molecules in the conjugate, increases the PS luminescence response. The FRET from QD to PS molecules with different ratios of donor and acceptors are shown. It has been demonstrated that the average efficiency of FRET depends on the ratio of PS and QD and reaches a maximum value of 80% at a ratio of 6 PS molecules per 1 QD molecule. Thus, these studies could help to contribute to the development of new complexes based on QD and PS to improve the efficiency of phototheranostics

Subclinical target organ damage in subjects with different components of metabolic syndrome

Background: To assess the association of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components with target organ damage in a follow-up study of relatively healthy bank employers. Methods: Out of 1600 random samples of office workers in Saint Petersburg (Russia), a group of 383 participants with at least one component of MS and without cardiovascular complications was selected (mean age 46.6 ± 9.0 years, 214 females (64.6%)). Follow-up visit was performed in 331 subjects. Target organ damage (TOD) was assessed by echocardiography, carotid ultrasound, applanational tonometry, brachial–ankle index, and urine albumin excretion measurements. Anthropometry, vital signs, and biochemistry were performed according to standard protocols. Results: Presence of MS was not associated with higher probability of TOD. Multiple linear regression revealed significant association of all markers of TOD with older age. Hypertension was a significant predictor of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), increased arterial stiffness, and early signs of carotid atherosclerosis in logistic regression adjusted for age and gender. During follow-up, proportion of patients with LVH significantly decreased (from 46.7% to 32.9%, р = 0.003) and prevalence of patients with IMT > 0.09 сm increased (from 24.5% to 44.1%, p < 0.001) accompanying by significant declining of office blood pressure (BP) and total cholesterol. Conclusions: MS per se is not related to increased probability to TOD. Hypertension, female gender, and older age are main determinants of subclinical changes. After 2-years follow-up, significant LVH and renal damage regression was observed probably owing to BP reduction. Alternatively, early signs of carotid atherosclerosis increase with aging despite decreasing of the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia

Bactericidal Activity of Multilayered Hybrid Structures Comprising Titania Nanoparticles and CdSe Quantum Dots under Visible Light

Titania nanoparticle/CdSe quantum dot hybrid structures are a promising bactericidal coating that exhibits a pronounced effect against light-sensitive bacteria. Here, we report the results of a comprehensive study of the photophysical properties and bactericidal functionality of these hybrid structures on various bacterial strains. We found that our structures provide the efficient generation of superoxide anions under the action of visible light due to electron transfer from QDs to titania nanoparticles with ~60% efficiency. We also tested the antibacterial activity of hybrid structures on five strains of bacteria. The formed structures combined with visible light irradiation effectively inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Mycobacterium smegmatis bacteria, the last of which is a photosensitive causative agent model of tuberculosis

Anticancer Nanotherapeutics in Clinical Trials: The Work behind Clinical Translation of Nanomedicine

The ultimate goal of nanomedicine has always been the generation of translational technologies that can ameliorate current therapies. Cancer disease represented the primary target of nanotechnology applied to medicine, since its clinical management is characterized by very toxic therapeutics. In this effort, nanomedicine showed the potential to improve the targeting of different drugs by improving their pharmacokinetics properties and to provide the means to generate new concept of treatments based on physical treatments and biologics. In this review, we considered different platforms that reached the clinical trial investigation, providing an objective analysis about their physical and chemical properties and the working mechanism at the basis of their tumoritr opic properties. With this review, we aim to help other scientists in the field in conceiving their delivering platforms for clinical translation by providing solid examples of technologies that eventually were tested and sometimes approved for human therapy

Energy Metabolism and Intracellular pH Alteration in Neural Spheroids Carrying Down Syndrome

Brain diseases including Down syndrome (DS/TS21) are known to be characterized by changes in cellular metabolism. To adequately assess such metabolic changes during pathological processes and to test drugs, methods are needed that allow monitoring of these changes in real time with minimally invasive effects. Thus, the aim of our work was to study the metabolic status and intracellular pH of spheroids carrying DS using fluorescence microscopy and FLIM. For metabolic analysis we measured the fluorescence intensities, fluorescence lifetimes and the contributions of the free and bound forms of NAD(P)H. For intracellular pH assay we measured the fluorescence intensities of SypHer-2 and BCECF. Data were processed with SPCImage and Fiji-ImageJ. We demonstrated the predominance of glycolysis in TS21 spheroids compared with normal karyotype (NK) spheroids. Assessment of the intracellular pH indicated a more alkaline intracellular pH in the TS21 spheroids compared to NK spheroids. Using fluorescence imaging, we performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of the metabolism and intracellular pH of TS21 spheroids and showed that fluorescence microscopy and FLIM make it possible to study living cells in 3D models in real time with minimally invasive effects