Application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the rehabilitation of patients after surgical correction of the penile urethral strictures

The aim of the article is to examine the impact and justify the use of hyperbaric oxygenation in the complex rehabilitation of patients after surgery for penile urethral strictures. Material and Methods. A group of 37 patients were examined who underwent various reconstructive operations on the urethra, 16 of which in the postoperative period in addition to conventional therapy conducted hyperbaric oxygenation. Results. It is shown that the use of hyperbaric oxygenation in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing replacement plastic of urethra can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, and reduced the time of urethral drainage. Conclusion. An integrated approach with the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the rehabilitation of patients undergoing extended replacement plastic of penile urethral strictures, reduces the amount of potential effect-dependent postoperative complications, which generally leads to shorter hospital stay after surgical treatment

The active volcanoes of Kamchatka and Paramushir Island, North Kurils in 2007

Eight strong eruptions of four Kamchatka volcanoes (Bezymyannyi, Klyuchevskoi, Shiveluch, and Karymskii) and Chikurachki Volcano on Paramushir Island, North Kurils took place in 2007. In addition, an explosive event occurred on Mutnovskii Volcano and increased fumarole activity was recorded on Avacha and Gorelyi volcanoes in Kamchatka and Ebeko Volcano on Paramushir Island, North Kurils. Thanks to close cooperation with colleagues involved in the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) project from the Elizovo Airport Meteorological Center and volcanic ash advisory centers in Tokyo, Anchorage, and Washington (Tokyo VAAC, Anchorage VAAC, and Washington VAAC), all necessary precautions were taken for flight safety near Kamchatka

COVID-19 and emerging viral infections: The case for interferon lambda

With the first reports on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the scientific community working in the field of type III IFNs (IFN-λ) realized that this class of IFNs could play an important role in this and other emerging viral infections. In this Viewpoint, we present our opinion on the benefits and potential limitations of using IFN-λ to prevent, limit, and treat these dangerous viral infections

Synthesis of carbon nanomaterials by means of microwave-assisted catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose

The growing demand for carbon nanotubes, which are typical representatives of the class of carbon nanomaterials and have unique physical and chemical properties, necessitates the search for available and renewable hydrocarbon resources for their production and development of an energy-efficient and a highly productive synthesis method. The prospects of using lignocellulosic biomass and its wastes as a carbon source for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by means of microwave catalytic pyrolysis are considered. The expediency of research in this direction is emphasized. It is noted that one of the parameters responsible for the process of pyrolytic synthesis of carbon nanotubes is the concentration of microwave radiation absorber, which determines pyrolysis temperature. The effect of changing the concentration of microwave absorber in reaction mixture on the catalytic synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes during microwave pyrolysis of cellulose has been studied. It is shown that a change in the microwave acceptor content from 10 to 30% is accompanied by an increase in the concentration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes of disordered morphology in reaction mixture. A two-stage pyrolysis-synthesis process is suggested. The results of transmission electron microscopy and X-ray phase analysis of the obtained products are considered

Regulation of T cells and cytokines by the interleukin-10 (IL-10)-family cytokines IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24 and IL-26

PubMedID: 16365913The family of IL-10-related cytokines includes several human members, IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24 and IL-26, and a series of herpesviral and poxviral paralogs. Some of these cytokines share common receptor subunits. In this study, we investigated the effects of these cytokines on naive T cell differentiation, antigen-specific T cell suppression, survival and expression of surface markers in comparison to IL-10 and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-IL-10. Human CD45RA+ T cells were stimulated in the presence of IL-10-family cytokines in sequential 12-day cycles. After three to four cycles of stimulation, IL-10 and CMV-IL-10 led to increased IFN-? and IL-10 but decreased IL-4 and IL-13. Interestingly, long-term exposure of T cells to IL-19, IL-20 and IL-22 down-regulated IFN-? but upregulated IL-4 and IL-13 in T cells and supported the polarization of naive T cells to Th2-like cells. In contrast, neutralization of endogenous IL-22 activity by IL-22-binding protein decreased IL-4, IL-13 and IFN-? synthesis. The antigen-specific suppressor activity of IL-10 and CMV-IL-10 was not observed for any of the other IL-10-family cytokines. These data demonstrate that IL-19, IL-20 and IL-22 may participate in T cell-mediated diseases by distinct regulation of T cell cytokine profiles. © 2006 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Active volcanoes of Kamchatka and Northern Kurils in 2005

In 2005, six major eruptions of four Kamchatka volcanoes (Bezymyannyi, Klyuchevskoy, Shiveluch, and Karymskii) occurred and the Avachinskii, Mutnovskii, and Gorelyi Kamchatka volcanoes and the Ebeko and Chikurachki volcanoes in northern Kurils were in a state of increased activity. Owing to a close collaboration between the KVERT project, Elizovo airport meteorological center, and volcanic ash advisory centers in Tokyo, Anchorage, and Washington (Tokyo, Anchorage, and Washington VAACs), all necessary measures for safe airplane flights near Kamchatka were taken and fatal accidents related to volcanic activity did not occur

IL-28A (IFN-λ2) modulates lung DC function to promote Th1 immune skewing and suppress allergic airway disease.

IL-28 (IFN-λ) cytokines exhibit potent antiviral and antitumor function but their full spectrum of activities remains largely unknown. Recently, IL-28 cytokine family members were found to be profoundly down-regulated in allergic asthma. We now reveal a novel role of IL-28 cytokines in inducing type 1 immunity and protection from allergic airway disease. Treatment of wild-type mice with recombinant or adenovirally expressed IL-28A ameliorated allergic airway disease, suppressed Th2 and Th17 responses and induced IFN-γ. Moreover, abrogation of endogenous IL-28 cytokine function in IL-28Rα(-/-) mice exacerbated allergic airway inflammation by augmenting Th2 and Th17 responses, and IgE levels. Central to IL-28A immunoregulatory activity was its capacity to modulate lung CD11c(+) dendritic cell (DC) function to down-regulate OX40L, up-regulate IL-12p70 and promote Th1 differentiation. Consistently, IL-28A-mediated protection was absent in IFN-γ(-/-) mice or after IL-12 neutralization and could be adoptively transferred by IL-28A-treated CD11c(+) cells. These data demonstrate a critical role of IL-28 cytokines in controlling T cell responses in vivo through the modulation of lung CD11c(+) DC function in experimental allergic asthma. →See accompanying Closeup by Michael R Edwards and Sebastian L Johnston http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201100143

Respiratory virus induction of alpha-, beta- and lambda-interferons in bronchial epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory viruses, predominantly rhinoviruses are the major cause of asthma exacerbations. Impaired production of interferon-beta in rhinovirus infected bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) and of the newly discovered interferon-lambdas in both BECs and bronchoalveolar lavage cells, is implicated in asthma exacerbation pathogenesis. Thus replacement of deficient interferon is a candidate new therapy for asthma exacerbations. Rhinoviruses and other respiratory viruses infect both BECs and macrophages, but their relative capacities for alpha-, beta- and lambda-interferon production are unknown. METHODS: To provide guidance regarding which interferon type is the best candidate for development for treatment/prevention of asthma exacerbations we investigated respiratory virus induction of alpha-, beta- and lambda-interferons in BECs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by reverse transferase-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Rhinovirus infection of BEAS-2B BECs induced interferon-alpha mRNA expression transiently at 8 h and interferon-beta later at 24 h while induction of interferon-lambda was strongly induced at both time points. At 24 h, interferon-alpha protein was not detected, interferon-beta was weakly induced while interferon-lambda was strongly induced. Similar patterns of mRNA induction were observed in primary BECs, in response to both rhinovirus and influenza A virus infection, though protein levels were below assay detection limits. In PBMCs interferon-alpha, interferon-beta and interferon-lambda mRNAs were all strongly induced by rhinovirus at both 8 and 24 h and proteins were induced: interferon-alpha>-beta>-lambda. Thus respiratory viruses induced expression of alpha-, beta- and lambda-interferons in BECs and PBMCs. In PBMCs interferon-alpha>-beta>-lambda while in BECs, interferon-lambda>-beta>-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that interferon-lambdas are likely the principal interferons produced during innate responses to respiratory viruses in BECs and interferon-alphas in PBMCs, while interferon-beta is produced by both cell types